VANCOUVER – A dominant fifteen-minute stretch early in the second half was enough to propel the Lethbridge Pronghorns (1-2) to a 34-22 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds (1-2) at the Gerald McGavin Rugby Centre on Sunday afternoon.
 
Myranda Falardeau scored two tries for the 'Horns, while Mackenzie Carson and Sarah Klok had singles for the 'Birds.
 
"It looked like we lost it for about fifteen minutes in the second half and dug a hole that was too deep," said UBC head coach Maria Gallo. "Turnovers were a problem for us today. We lost the ball in contact and when you don't have the ball it's tough to win."
 
"I thought both sides were really aggressive and both sides really tried to play a wide game. It was great rugby that way," said Lethbridge head coach Neil Langevin.


 
It was a back and forth affair in the opening minutes, with much of the action played near the half line.
 
UBC did well to move the ball forward in rucks and scrums, but struggled to find much room with their backs until the 18th minute. Some sustained pressure by the 'Birds lead to short plunge into the scoring area by Mya Gangon. The subsequent conversion was missed.
 
Lethbridge answered in the 24th minute when their backs did well to switch the ball right across the field, before Brittany Orr was able to push the ball pushed over the corner flag, tying the game at 5-5.  The convert was missed
 
In the 35th minute Hannah Lopez made a swerving run down the right wing for the try. Sarah Gordon converted and it was 12-5 Horns.
 
UBC pulled within two just before half when a strong surge by the 'Birds forwards culminated in a push into the scoring area by Bianca Acland. The score was 12-5 'Horns at halftime.
 
Lethbridge came out flying to start the second half with a series of probing runs into the UBC half. In the 46th minute a score by Hailey Driscoll set off a run of four straight tries for the 'Horns, two by Falardeau and another by Bradee Ellingson.


 
UBC attempted a furious comeback in the games dying minutes, as both Carson and Klok scored their tries with 80 minutes on the scoreboard, but it was too little, too late.
 
When the referee blew the final whistle it was 34-22 'Horns and both teams held identical 1-2 records.
 
"This was an important game for us and we're now leaving our fate in the hands of Alberta, which is never a good thing," added Gallo. "The girls did some really great things this week, but we want to keep building off that."
 
UBC will now have a bye week before hosting Calgary on October 13. The 'Horns also get a week long break before hosting the University of Alberta on October 14.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
17th minute - UBC TRY – Mya Gagnon (convert missed) – 5-0 UBC
23rd – Lethbridge TRY – Brittany Orr (convert missed) – 5-5
35th – Lethbridge TRY – Hannah Lopez (convert by Sarah Gordon) – 12-5 Lethbridge
40th – UBC TRY – Bianca Acland (convert missed) – 12-10 Lethbridge
 
HALFTIME
 
46th – Lethbridge TRY – Hailey Driscoll (convert missed) – 17-10 Lethbridge
60th – Lethbridge TRY – Bradee Ellingson (convert by Sarah Gordon) – 24-10 Lethbridge
66th – Lethbridge TRY – Myranda Falardeau (convert missed) – 29-10 Lethbridge
76th – Lethbridge TRY – Myranda Falardeau (convert missed) – 34-10 Lethbridge
80th – UBC TRY – Sarah Klok (convert by Brooke Bazian) – 34-17 Lethbridge
80th – UBC TRY – Mackenzie Carson (convert missed) – 34-22 Lethbridge