Joel MalinaAfter a disappointing finish to the 2014 season, one where they fell short of a CIS National Championship, the Pandas Rugby Team is gearing up for the 2015 season.
Opening the regular season against the Calgary Dinos next Sunday, head coach Matthew Parrish feels like this game will be a constructive opportunity for the team.
“We’ve played them in the final for the last three years. So it is a little different opening up against them,” Parrish said. “It’ll allow us to see where we’re at and make changes.”
The Pandas concluded their 2014 regular season with a 19-15 loss against Calgary heading into Canada West playoffs, however, this loss proved to be a learning experience for the squad, as Parrish pointed out.
“The biggest thing last year was losing that game against Calgary because it showed us what we needed to do to beat them in the final,” Parrish said. “Sometimes losing teaches you more than winning. If you win you perceive everything to be good but when you lose you look through the game with a more critical lens.”
Although the regular season will take place on the road with no home games until the Canada West Championship at Ellerslie Rugby Club Oct. 23-25, the Pandas played their first preseason game in three years against the University of Victoria on Thursday, Sept 3. Parrish viewed this preseason game as a valuable start to the season, and the overwhelming fan presence reminded the team of the paramount support at the University of Alberta and in Edmonton.
“We didn’t advertise it at all but we ended up having more than 100 people there,” he said. “I didn’t think there would be more than 20. We always get good support at home.”
The result was an encouraging one for the Pandas as well, as they secured a 43-22 victory against the Vikes.
Last weekend, the squad headed to The Garrison Army Base for a weekend of team building, fitness and fundamental skills. Parrish says it integrates the rookies and ultimately gives a chance for the team to get to know each other and feel a part of the team. In 2014, the Pandas lost 10 starting players, which resulted in a year of rebuilding and integrating players into key positions. However, Parrish viewed this hurdle as a success.
“Last year was a tough year, but in reflection, we actually exceeded my goal, which was to get to Nationals,” he stated. “The big difference with this year is that, in 2014, we lost a lot of those key, decision-making positions — the Scrumhalf, Flyhalf, Number 8 — whereas this year, we’ve kept all of those players and they will be another year older, wiser, stronger,” Parrish said.
“Our expectation is to always make it to nationals. But this year we will have a lot of girls that have already experienced being starters. All those games in 2014 at Nationals were all fairly close—so now we’ll know how to finish off those games; that’s the big difference this year,”
Parrish concluded, setting his sights early on the CIS National Championship.
Overall Parrish is optimistic about this season, yet acknowledges the dedication and hard work the Pandas will undergo to win this year’s National Title.
“Due to the success of our program, we always go in with high expectations. It’s going to be an exciting season and I feel like we have a team that is capable of winning the whole thing. It’s a nice thing as a coach to know we have the talent. It’s just a matter of getting out there and performing well.”
The Pandas open their season in Calgary against the Dinos on Sept. 20.
