LETHBRIDGE – Opening the 2021 Canada West season, the Lethbridge Pronghorns put forth a complete performance from start to finish in a 53-7 win over the Alberta Pandas.
 
The game also marked the first leg of the fourth annual Suggitt Cup, a two game aggregate with the Alberta Pandas in honour of former Pronghorn head coach Ric Suggitt, who passed away in the summer of 2017. The return match between the Pronghorns and Pandas will go in Edmonton October 2^nd.
 
Only two minutes into the game the Pronghorns hit the scoreboard with a penalty goal from scrum half Caitlin Sears from just outside the 20 yard line, to take a 3-0 lead.
 
From there it was all Pronghorns in the opening half. Fifth-year lock Abby Duguid scored consecutive tries to set the pace, scoring on a run from the wing and powering through the middle of the field in the 20^th minute for the second score.
 
Genna Wright scored the third Pronghorn try on an outstanding 60 metre scamper in the 24^th minute, while Sears hit her second convert to put the Pronghorns up 22-0.
 
Sofia Hoff scored a converted try, while Keegan Branter's first score of the game went unconverted and put the Pronghorns up 34-0 at the break.
 
Coming out the break, the Pandas looked to have regrouped and threatened to hit the scoreboard. A long build up and a trio Pronghorn penalties put the Pandas just metres from the goal line. The Pronghorns held the ball up in the endzone and then force a Pandas knock on the stop the push.
 
Turning the Pandas over, it was the Pronghorn turn to go on the offensive. Sara Cline sprung first-year back Sam Ganske for her first career try to put the Pronghorns up 39-0.
 
Prop Karlee Durfey played a hand in the next two Pronghorn scores to put the game out of reach. Durfey scored a converted try in the 65^th minute and then made a slick offload pass to Gwen Fillinger to spring her for the Pronghorns final try of the match. Sears hit on both converts to push the score to 53-0.
 
With only two minutes to play, Alberta closed on a strong note. Cassie Jorgenson sliced through the Pronghorn line and scampered away to break the goose egg. Heidi Peake hit the convert to round out the scoring.
 
Lethbridge will travel to Calgary next Friday to face the Calgary Dinos, while the Pandas will head to the west coast to face the UBC Thunderbirds and Victoria Vikes next week.
 
LET        34         19         53
ALB       0            7            7

Scoring summary
First half
2' LET – Caitlin Sears penalty goal            3-0
8' LET – Abby Duguid Try (Convert – Sears) 10-0
20' LET – Duguid Try (Convert Missed)  15-0
24' LET – Genna Wright Try (Convert – Sears) 22-0
35' LET – Sofia Hoff Try (Convert – Sears ) 29-0
39' LET – Keegan Brantner Try (Covert missed) 34-0
 
Second half
57' LET – Sam Ganske Try (Covert Missed) 39-0
65' LET – Karlee Durfey Try (Covert Sears) 46-0
74' LET – Gwen Fillinger Try (Covert Sears) 53-0
79' ALB – Cassie Jorgenson Try (Convert Heidi Peake) 53-7