UofA Athletics On Friday September 11 at Foote Field, the University of Alberta Pandas faced off against the University of Calgary Dinos. The match delivered an impressive win for your rugby 15s team.
The Dinos took the reins with an early try and conversion to make the score 7-0 in the eighth minute. Despite being down and facing the wind with the sun setting on the pitch, this didn’t stop the Pandas. The Pandas gained momentum when Shaely Moodie got on the scorecard. She took advantage of an opponent’s infraction to dive into the try zone and make it 7-5.
At the 26-minute mark, Dino Kayla MacLean made a run for it from the 50-yard mark for an added five points. This now meant that the Pandas were nine points away from tying the game. Luckily this wouldn’t be a worry for long.
Four minutes later, Chloe Hedges scores a try for the Pandas by inching bit by bit to the try zone. Kate Alcock’s kick makes it through the uprights, making it 14-12 for the Dinos. These points for the Pandas would be the start of the show for the 2026-2027 rugby team. They are defining why Alberta has beaten Calgary in their last seven matchups all the way back to 2022.
The Dinos tried to keep the Pandas away from the try zone, stopping the Pandas’ offence at the line, but Keira Skrenek received a pass back and scored five more points. 10 minutes later, at the 63-minute mark, a series of Panda passes found Kaitlin Tetteh-Wayoe, who scored to make it 22-14 Alberta.
Kate Alcock receives a pass next, dodging two Dinos to dive into the try zone. She also completes her kick for a convert, successfully for the Pandas to lead the score 29-14. In the last two minutes of play, Calgary pushes further and further to redeem some points. Dino Gracie Freund gets the last push, followed by a convert by Allysen Stachiw to get the Dinos seven points. This play finishes the game out 29-21 for the Pandas.
This game is an example of the varied roster Alberta has, as five players made important plays leading to points. The team has each other’s backs, and as the game progressed, one could tell the team is already acting as one unit. The Pandas knew where their teammates would be to throw and catch passes quickly. Next, the Pandas play the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge. Last year, Alberta won one, tied one and lost one to the Pronghorns. The team is looking promising for that game, along with their rematch against Calgary.
Don’t miss out on the Pandas’ return to Foote Field against the University of Victoria Vikes on October 1 at 6:00 pm..
