Lethbridge – Following a second consecutive third place finish in the conference, JJ Ondrus is now in charge of leading the University of Lethbridge women's rugby program back to prominence. The 'Horns will open the Canada West season this Saturday, hosting the defending Canada West and CIS Champion Alberta Pandas.
Kick-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm at the University Community Sports Stadium.
After serving as the interim coach last season, JJ Ondrus officially took the reins of the program this past spring after the only head coach the program knew, Neil Langevin, formally resigned. Langevin had led the program from the start and guided the Pronghorns to six consecutive Canada West Championships (2006-2011) and three CIS Championships (2007, 2008, 2009).
Head coach Ondrus has added former Pronghorns Ashley MacDonald and Shannon Court to her staff this season.
With 15 players in their first or second year of eligibility, the leadership of a new look and young team falls to lone fifth-year senior Tiffany Wideen and third-year Frederique Tremblay.
Wideen finished second in scoring at the Canada West Championship tournament last year with 21 points, but the 'Horns attack will get an instant boost with the return of scrumhalf Sarah Gordon. The former U20 national team member missed the entire 2013 season due to an injury.
Backs Nicole Ronsky, who took a giant leap forward last season and was named a Canada West All-Star, Kara Lowen, and Rebecca Gannon will also counted on to produce offensively after the 'Horns scored their fewest points since the conference moved to a full conference schedule.
Coreen Riley, fresh off a U20 national team experience this summer, Bailey Campbell, Shelby Brennan and Ashley Delaney will be key for the Pronghorns at the forward position and local product Jillian Tataryn is expected to make an impact as a freshman.
The University of Alberta Pandas rugby team enters the 2014 Canada West season as defending conference and national champions, albeit with a very different line-up from the one that hoisted the trophies last season.
In 2013 the Pandas were a nigh unstoppable powerhouse program that rolled to a 4-0 Canada West record, as well as a 5-0 playoff record and captured the Canada West women's rugby championship trophy and the Monilex Trophy as CIS champions. Along the way, the Pandas outscored their competition 192-20 in conference play, as well as 117-32 in three CIS championship games. Panda players earned Canada West MVP and all-star honours, the CIS championship MVP award, CIS all-Canadian positions and CIS championship tournament all-star nods.
But gone from that team are 10 players, several of whom were starters, including CIS championship MVP Chelsea Guthrie, Canada West MVP Miranda Monty and Canada West all-stars Louise Chavarie and Allison Fairbairn.
Returning to the Pandas this season are 20 student-athletes, including former Canada West all-stars Alanna Fittes, Amee Svatos and Julia Goss, as well as Rebecca Fairbairn and Sabrina Kelly. Joining the program for the title defence are over a dozen new players, including Ali Wicklum, Alexa Martin and Jenn Lemon. Wicklum played for Team Alberta U19, while both Martin and Lemon were members of the Team British Columbia U19 team that won the 2014 national championship title.
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