EDMONTON – The Alberta Pandas built an early lead and withstood a late push from the Calgary Dinos to claim a 29-24 victory on Saturday.

Four different Pandas recorded tries, with Keira Skrenek adding three converts and a penalty kick for a game-high nine points. The win pushes Alberta to 2-2-1 on the season, while the Dinos slide to 0-5. 

Kaitlin Tetteh-Wayoe opened the scoring in the third minute, touching down for Alberta with Skrenek adding the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Fifteen minutes later, Cassie Mann powered over the line, and Skrenek's second successful convert stretched the margin to 14-0.

Calgary responded in the 29th minute when Bomi Lawal successfully picking up her own kicked ball in the Pandas endzone, with Allysen Stachiw converting to cut the deficit to 14-7. Alberta answered before halftime as Luvina Franken crossed in the 38th minute. The Pandas carried a 19-7 advantage into the break.

The Dinos struck early in the second half, with Willow Beyea touching down in the 45th minute to narrow the score to 19-12.

Alberta replied quickly. Mikayla Gibbon powered in for a try five minutes later, and Skrenek added the convert to restore a two-score cushion at 26-12.

Calgary continued to press, with Katie Bester touching down in the 55th minute to trim Alberta's lead to 26-17. Skrenek added to the Pandas total in the 76th minute, slotting a penalty goal that pushed the advantage to 29-17.

The Dinos made it a nervy finish when Natalia Velazquez scored in the 79th minute, and Stachiw converted to close the gap to 29-24. Pushing for goal in extra time, the Pandas turned the ball over inside their own 20 yard line to end the back-and-forth thriller. 
 
SCORING SUMMARY
            1    2    F
ALB     19   7  29
CGY     7   17   24

First Half

3'  ALB – #8 Kaitlin Tetteh-Wayoe try (#10 Keira Skrenek convert) – 7-0 ALB
18' ALB - #5 Cassie Mann try (#10 Keira Skrenek convert) - 14-0 ALB
29' CGY - #14 Bomi Lawal try (#10 Allysen Stachiw convert) - 14-7 ALB
38' ALB - #11 Luvina Franken try (convert missed) - 19-7 ALB

Second Half

45'  CGY – #7 Willow Beyea try (convert missed) – 19-12 ALB
50' ALB - #1 Mikayla Gibbon try (#10 Keira Skrenek convert) - 26-12 ALB
55' CGY - #1 Katie Bester try (convert missed) - 26-17 ALB
76' ALB - #10 Keira Skrenek Penalty Goal - 29-17 ALB
79' CGY - #20 Natalia Velazquez try (#10 Allysen Stachiw convert) - 29-24 ALB

-UC-