Pandas storm back for bronze medal win

EDMONTON – The host Alberta Pandas erased a 12-3 first half deficit, storming back for a 15-12 win over Lethbridge in the Canada West bronze medal match at Foote Field.

Team captain Molly Stetsko scored in the 28th minute to cut into the Pronghorns lead, before Anela Hebert put the Pandas ahead for good with a major score in the 37th minute. It is the third Canada West bronze medal for the Pandas in the last four seasons (2022, 2023, 2025), with Sunday marking their first victory this season over Lethbridge.

The Pandas also erased a 26-5 deficit in their season-opener against Lethbridge at Foote Field, storming back for a 26-26 tie.

Keira Skrenek, who had a successful convert on Hebert’s game-winning try late in the first half, opened the scoring with a penalty goal from 25-yards out in the fifth minute. 

The Pronghorns finally found their rhythm in the frigid temperate as the first half went on, taking the lead in the 15th minute. Zina Umeh finally found the endzone after a sustained Pronghorns drive, before Kayleigh Noel’s convert put the visitors up 7-3.

Lethbridge added to their lead shortly after when Ainsley Maxwell pushed through the Pandas last line of defence, before touching down to put the ‘Horns up 12-3.

Thanks to the urging of the home crowd, Alberta pushed back in backend of the first half. Stetsko, who was named the 2025 CW Student-Athlete Community Award winner on Sunday, plunged in from the three-yard line to cut the ‘Horns lead down to four.

While the first half saw back-and-forth scoring, the second half went scoreless, with the Pandas holding off multiple long Pronghorns possessions.

Strong defence and a field position battle dominated the second half, with the forward group on both sides holding against pressure. The Pandas held off a late minute Pronghorns push to secure the 15-12 win.

Scoring Summary

First Half

5' ALB – #10 Keira Skrenek penalty goal – 3-0 ALB
15' LET – #15 Zina Umeh try (#10 Kayleigh Noel convert) – 7-3 LET
22' LET – #14 Ainsley Maxwell try (convert missed) – 12-3 LET
28' ALB – #4 Molly Stetsko try (convert missed) – 12-8 LET
37' ALB – #2 Anela Hebert try (#10 Keira Skrenek convert) – 15-12 ALB

Second Half

No Scoring