CALGARY – Amber Quo scored a try in the final minute to lift the University of Calgary Dinos women's rugby team to a 17-13 comeback win over the University of Alberta Pandas on a wet and windy Saturday at Southern Alberta Rugby Union, ending a winless run that stretched back almost four years.

The victory was Calgary's first in rugby fifteens since Oct. 15, 2022, when the Dinos also beat Alberta, 43-12.

"I think it's absolutely incredible," said fifth-year scrum half Jai LaBelle. "We have been working towards this for so long."

LaBelle got the Dinos started, touching down in the fourth minute after Calgary pushed deep into Alberta territory for a 5-0 lead. The Pandas answered five minutes later with a try from Emerson Hanrahan to tie the game 5-5.

Alberta spent much of the rest of the first half on the attack but struggled to break down a stubborn Calgary defence. Fiea Marsh eventually found a way in during the 35th minute, sending the Pandas into halftime with a 10-5 lead.

Calgary came out of the break with fresh energy. Rebecca Kochuk powered over for a try in the 54th minute, and Julia McEwan added the conversion through the wind and rain, the only successful conversion of the game, to put the Dinos ahead 12-10.

The Pandas mounted sustained pressure in the closing stages, pinning the Dinos in their own end. Keira Skrenek missed a kick that would have put Alberta ahead, but she made good on her second chance, slotting a drop goal in the 77th minute to give the Pandas a 13-12 lead.

Trailing 13-12 with time running out, the Dinos had one more push left. With the ball back in hand, Calgary drove deep into the Alberta end and moved it wide to Quo, who crossed the try line in the final minute to win it.

"Everyone on the field was battling their hardest. We were playing defence for I don't know how many phases," said Quo, a third-year wing. "But to get out of that and get into the hard attacking zone and to be able to execute was just awesome."

For LaBelle, the win carried extra meaning.

"Playing with my sisters and to be able to win with my sisters, my cousin and this incredible team, it just means everything," she said.

Quo said the result was the payoff for work that fans don't always see.

"It's awesome to have a win with my team and be able to celebrate with some of my best friends on the field," Quo said. "I think so much work has gone behind the scenes to get us this first win this season, and hopefully next game we come and keep building from this one."

The Dinos will close out their regular season home schedule Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2:30 p.m. when they host the Victoria Vikes at McMahon Stadium.

Alberta will host the Vikes on Thursday, Oct. 1.

SCORING SUMMARY
           1    2    F
CGY   5   12   17
ALB  10    3   13

First Half
4' CGY - Jai LaBelle try (convert missed) - 5-0 CGY
9' ALB - Emerson Hanrahan try (convert missed) - 5-5
35' ALB - Fiea Marsh try (convert missed) - 10-5 ALB

Second Half
54' CGY - Rebecca Kochuk try (Julia McEwan convert) - 12-10 CGY
77' ALB - Kiera Skrenek drop goal - 13-12 ALB
80' CGY - Amber Quo try (convert missed) - 17-13 CGY

-UC-