VANCOUVER – Life doesn't get any easier for the UBC Thunderbirds women's rugby team as they get set to face both of last year's Canada West conference finalists over the course of the weekend. After succumbing to a tough loss last weekend, the Thunderbirds play host to the No. 2 Alberta Pandas on Friday and the No. 9 Calgary Dinos on Sunday.
 
With three games remaining the 'Birds need to pick up at least one win, preferably two, if they want to make the playoffs.

GAME TIMES (both games at the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre) 
Friday, Sept. 27 – 4 p.m. – UBC vs. Alberta
Sunday, Sept. 29 – 1 p.m. – UBC vs. Calgary
 
UBC have plenty of positives to take into this weekend despite Sunday's loss to the Lethbridge Pronghorns. They entered the half 14-12 ahead and were deserving of their lead at that point but some stellar defensive pressure by Lethbridge and some well-taken tries of their own blew UBC away in the second half. Rookies Mackenzie Lee (inside center) and Gillian Boag (blindside flanker) were arguably the Thunderbirds' best players and showed great promise in their first starts; while veterans like Carolyn McEwen (prop) and Catherine Ohler (outside center) were dependable as usual.
 
Alberta started their campaign with a 62-17 thrashing of Calgary in Edmonton last weekend. Fullback Alanna Fittes scored four tries of her own and converted another six to pick up the CIS female athlete of the week. Last season's conference MVP Chelsea Guthrie picked up a try of her own and characteristically masterminded the game from scrum half. Allied to that are three other Canada West all-stars from 2012 in Amee Svatos (back row), Miranda Monty (back row) and Rebecca Fairbairn (wing/full-back) and a relatively experienced team throughout.
 
Calgary's season got off to a bad start as they were on the receiving end of Alberta's dominance in week one. They have this weekend to get things back on track with a game at the University of Victoria on Friday and then arrive to face the Thunderbirds on Sunday. With 13 of their 15 starters from last season back and firing again this year, it shouldn't take this squad long to gel and UBC must come out hard against them. In Samantha Crandell (prop), Calgary have a representative of the senior women's national team and an absolute rock at scrum time. She helped herself to a try last week against the Pandas and will be looking for support from her teammates to notch up their first win as results are so crucial in such a short season.