LETHBRIDGE – The Lethbridge Pronghorn women's rugby team launches the 20^th season of Pronghorn rugby and the 2019 Canada West season this weekend traveling to Edmonton to face the Alberta Pandas.
 
The Pronghorns and Pandas will clash Sunday at Foote Field at 1:00PM.
 
Sunday's game will mark the first of a two game series with the Alberta Pandas for the third installment of the Suggitt Cup in memory of former coach Ric Suggitt who passed away in the summer of 2017.
 
The Pandas won the second installment of the Suggitt Cup last year on point differential by a single point after the two teams split the season series. The Pandas won the first game 17-10 in Edmonton and the Pronghorn returned the favour on home field, outlasting the Pandas 38-32.
 
The Pronghorns took home the inaugural Suggitt Cup in 2017 with a 32-17 win.
 
A year ago, the Pronghorns and Pandas finished with identical 2-4 records but the Pandas took fourth place and advanced to the Canada West Championship on bonus points awarded.
 
With only three players graduating from last year's team, the Pronghorns return a veteran based that will be led by captain Abby Duguid from her lock position. Caitlin Sears, Erin McFadden, Keegan Brantner and Hailey Driscoll will also be key contributors as the Pronghorns look to move back into Canada West contention.
 
Adding to the veteran lineup, the program welcomed 14 talented first-year athletes to the team this year, many with ties to the provincial program, and will push the 21 veterans for playing time this season.
 
The Pandas underwent some dramatic changes this off-season, with Canada West All-Stars Ali Wicklum, Jayne Isherwood, and Alix Evans all graduating from the program, but a strong first-year class will join a talented returning group, including all-star Courtney Holtkamp, and returning starters Savannah Dubien, Athea Volpe, Cara Park, and Emily Brown.
 
The Pandas and Pronghorns will face each other in the second leg of the Suggitt Cup on October 5^th in Lethbridge.