Lethbridge - The 2016 Lethbridge Pronghorn women's rugby team will look to build off a surprise return appearance at the 2015 CIS Championship tournament and open the Canada West season in Edmonton versus the Alberta Pandas Sunday.
 
Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00PM at Foote Field and the game will be webcast on www.canadawest.tv
 
The 'Horns and Pandas have combined to win 17 of the 18 Canada West Championships that have been awarded. The 'Horns have won six titles with the last won in 2011 and the Pandas have accounted for 11 titles with their last one coming in 2014.
 
After finishing fourth in 2015, earning one more bonus point than the UBC Thunderbirds in the regular season, the 'Horns shocked the previously undefeated Calgary Dinos, 35-25 in the Canada West semi-final to earn a berth in the CIS Championship in Kingston.
 
The 'Horns will have some big holes to fill from last year's team after the departure of Sarah Gordon, Bailey Campbell, Kara Loewen and Shellby Brennan but have several returning veterans that gained valuable experience last season.
 
CIS Championship All-Star Nicole Ronsky, Frederique Tremblay and Jill Tataryn will be counted on to lead the 'Horns this season.
 
A large recruiting class of 21 new faces is highlighted by U18 Canada members Keegan Brantner, Sydney De La Mare. Caitlin Sears, Abby Neudorf, and Sevedyn Westrop are expected to challenge for starting positions this season.

After rebounding from a week one loss to the Calgary Dinos last season, the Alberta Pandas were poised to add to their record 11 Canada West titles, before being stunned in the Canada West semifinal by the eventual champion Victoria Vikes.
 
The Pandas also graduated three of their key players in Rebecca Fairbairn and conference all-stars Elizabeth Steele and Julia Goss. In their absence, the Pandas will have to rely on fellow Canada West all-star and CIS All-Canadian Amanda Smith. Smith enters her final season of eligibility following a season in which she tied for the Pandas lead with 20 points and four tries, and will be the focal point of an incredibly young Pandas side. 
 
The 'Horns will host the 2016 Canada West Championships October 21^st-23^rd.