CALGARY – After completing their annual west coast road swing, the University of Calgary Dinos women's rugby team is back on campus for their home opener against the Alberta Pandas.

The game is part of the first-ever Dinos Pride Fest, which includes free admission to both the women's rugby and field hockey games, with music, food trucks, beer gardens, face painting, a Rec Room outdoor games corner, the ATB Financial photo booth and more.

B.C. SPLIT
For the first time since 2014, the Dinos came back from British Columbia with a loss. Calgary had won 10 consecutive games west of the Rocky Mountains, but a 18-17 setback to the Victoria Vikes on Sunday broke that streak. The Dinos opened the season with a 22-14 win versus the UBC Thunderbirds.

FILLING IN
The Dinos will be without the services of Taejah Thompson this fall after the third-year wing suffered a season-ending injury in the offseason. Thompson was a U SPORTS All-Canadian last season and led Canada West with nine tries. In her absence Calgary head coach Simon Chi will be relying on a number of players to replace her scoring, including second-year wing Angie Olukunmi, who represented Canada at the Tri-Nationals Cup this summer.

SENIOR RECRUITS
Calgary brought in some veteran experience over the summer with the addition of three fifth-year players who are in graduate studies at UCalgary. Catherine Ohler and Catrina Thompson are both in the Faculty of Law, while Nadia Popov is enrolled in the Cumming School of Medicine. A former member of the Queen's Gaels, Popov has spent time with the Canadian senior national team and won gold with Canada at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs ALBERTA PANDAS
Game Info Saturday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. – UCalgary Field 7
2019 Record 0-1, 5th in Canada West
2019 Leading Scorer(s) no tries

NOTES

• The Pandas are coming off a difficult 27-0 loss to the Lethbridge Pronghorns in their season opener last weekend
• The Dinos won all three meetings last season with Alberta, including a 25-24 walk-off win at home on Sept. 16
• Alberta was second in Canada West last year with 137 points scored
• 2017 Canada West Rookie of the Year Courtney Holtkamp led the Pandas with four tries last season
• U SPORTS All-Canadians Jayne Isherwood and Alix Evans graduated from the program last year

UP NEXT
The Dinos are on the road next weekend when they visit the Lethbridge Pronghorns, Sept. 21.