The University of Alberta Pandas Rugby team didn’t fold under pressure, they fought.
After a blowout 0-67 loss to the powerhouse University of Victoria Vikes, they found themselves in the bronze medal match against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. They had yet to find a win against the Pronghorns all year, and after such a loss, they had something to prove.
Down 12-3 early, the Pandas clawed back to beat the Pronghorns 15-12 and claim the Canada West bronze medal on home turf. It was their third bronze in four years, and their first win over Lethbridge all season.
It started ugly. The Pronghorns found the endzone twice early, jumping out to a 12-3 lead while Alberta struggled to hang onto possession. The crowd was losing hope, the weather was brisk, and it looked like the Pronghorns would be sweeping the Pandas this season.
Then, the momentum shifted.
Captain Molly Stetsko bulldozed her way in at the 28-minute mark, cutting the lead to four. Just before halftime, hooker Anéla Hébert scored for the lead. Keira Skrenek nailed the convert to make it 15-12. That score held the rest of the way.
The second half turned into a defensive game. In the frigid air, neither side could find a rhythm. Alberta’s defence stood tall, stopping Lethbridge drives deep in their own end. The final whistle brought the crowd to life, and a pile of green and gold jerseys celebrating near midfield.
It was a fitting end for a team that proved its ability to play from behind. The Pandas tied Lethbridge in their season opener after trailing 26-5, then lost to them in the regular-season finale. Sunday felt like payback.
The weekend didn’t start as sweet, but the Pandas ability to grind out wins shifted the tides of the Championship. The Vikes, the big-bad team of Canada West, moved on to face University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the final. Both of those teams now head to Vancouver for the U Sports national championship.
For the Pandas, this bronze means something. It’s proof they belong in the top tier again. The roster is young, the core is growing, and they keep finding ways to win.
After the medal, Stetsko was named recipient of the 2025 Canada West Student-Athlete Community Award. The captain serves as president of the Athletics Board, and is involved with numerous local non-profit organizations. Her leadership on and off the field makes her the perfect recipient for this award.
Winning a medal on home turf, in the cold, after capturing gritty wins all season? That’s how you build a program.
