CALGARY – The University of Alberta Pandas broke open a close game down the stretch to spoil the final game of the season for the University of Calgary Dinos on "seniors' night" from McMahon Stadium.

Holding a 14-7 lead at the half, Alberta scored five tries in the final 40 minutes en route to a 43-7 win to improve to 3-2 on the season. The win clinches a playoff spot for the Pandas, who also earned the season sweep over the Dinos with the victory. Alberta outscored the Dinos 97-12 in a pair of blowout wins in 2023. 
 
The Alberta Pandas began this game with momentum as they pushed in two early tries - including one in the opening minute of the game - to bring quickly jump out to a 14-0 lead.
 
Calgary battled hard though and got on the board in the 17th minute when Melody Kivia intercepting a Pandas pass in their backline to run in a try. Kivia pounced on the ball as it flew between two Pandas players and took on a 60-yard sprint to the middle of the endzone for a Dinos try. Grace Eagleton made the conversion to secure a 14-7 score before halftime. 
 
Into the second half, the Pandas found their strengths and brought in five more tries.

Michi Gratton started the scoring in the 48th minute, with Bea Herrera and Emily Mann each finding the endzone in the 54th and 65th minutes, respectively, to stretch the lead to 31-7.

With the game already in hand, Janelle Amyotte capped off a nice drive with a try in the 79th minute before Melina Ioannides added her name to the scoresheet on the game's final play to close out the scoring.
 
Thursday's contest was the final rugby 15s contest for six Dinos, as they honoured their seniors after the game.

The seniors the Dinos will see go on are Sofia Brussoni, Aspen Dorn, Erin Geddie, Elizabeth Feddema, Melody Kivia and Ashlynn Smith - who is currently traveling internationally with Team Canada. 

The Pandas close out the regular season next Friday, October 13th with a home game against the Lethbridge Pronghorns at Foote Field.

SCORING SUMMARY

            1    2    F
CGY    7    0    7
ALB    14    29    43

1' – Alberta Try - #8 Shelby Pierce (#10 Kate Manning Convert); 7-0 ALB
6' – Alberta Try - #12 Maria Sawiak (#10 Kate Manning Convert); 14-0 ALB
17' – Calgary Try - #14 Melody Kivia (#2 Grace Eagleton Convert); 14-7 ALB

HALF

48' – Alberta Try - #11 Michi Gratton (#10 Kate Manning Convert); 21-7 ALB
54' – Alberta Try - #13 Bea Herrera (Convert Missed); 26-7 ALB
65' – Alberta Try - #16 Emily Mann (Convert Missed); 31-7 ALB
79' – Alberta Try - #3 Janelle Amyotte (#25 Emilee Randolph Convert); 38-7 ALB
80' – Alberta Try - #9 Melina Ioannides (Convert Missed); 43-7 ALB