Vancouver, BC - Fresh off an opening weekend victory over Calgary, the UBC Thunderbirds women's rugby team is back in action this weekend, playing hosting to a pair of games against Lethbridge and the defending CIS and Canada West Champion Alberta Pandas.
This year's Thunderbirds roster has been bolstered by the return of three-time Canada West All-Star Megan Hamm, who sat out the 2013 season due to injury, plus the improvement of a number of young players, including Paige Smith, Mackenzie Lee, and Ciara Malone.
On Friday, September 26 the Lethbridge Pronghorns come calling. Last season the Pronghorns finished third in the conference with a record of 1-2-1 and defeated UBC in the Canada West consolation final 33-22. This year, Lethbridge lost their home opener to Alberta 24-13. The Pronghorns are a young team, featuring 15 players in their first or second years. Game time is 4:00 pm at Lord Field in front of the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre.
UBC will have less than 48 hours to prepare for the No.1 ranked team in the CIS, the Alberta Pandas. The Pandas ran the table in 2013 finishing the season a perfect 9-0 and outscoring the competition 309-52 on route to a Canada West Championship and a CIS Championship. However, gone are a number of key players including CIS Player of the Year Miranda Monty and CIS All-Canadian scrum half Chelsea Guthrie. Alberta opened the 2014 season with a 24-13 win over Lethbridge. The Thunderbirds and Pandas square off on Sunday, September 28 at Lord Field at 1:00 pm.
Friday, September 26
Lethbridge at UBC, 4:00 pm
Sunday September 28
Alberta at UBC, 1:00 pm
*Both games will be played at Lord Field, located in front of the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre.
