2008 Woodie Awards
West Chester Lady Rams win first NCAA Rugby Contest
Frank Stern
Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: Sports
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This time it counts.
Don't think the Lady Ram's Rugby squad took this game any less serious, but this one had dramatic and historic implications.
Historically, West Chester won the first ever NCAA sanctioned varsity Rugby contest, in comeback fashion, downing the Eastern Illinois Lady Panthers 20-19 in Charleston, Ill on Saturday.
West Chester's first game of the season will live on in history books forever, while Eastern Illinois will look to get back to winning ways.
Last year, Eastern Illinois decimated opponents outscoring 652-42, while going 9-1 last season.
The game results weren't as important as the fact that the game was played in front of 1,237 people. But as action and drama are concerned, this was one interesting way to start.
West Chester quickly fell behind 12-0 into the match and looked like another victim of Panther dominance.
However, West Chester would have little of it as Katy Black brought the scored back to 12-10 with two trys.
West Chester would take the lead after that due to Whitney Hartshorne's five-point try to make the score 15-12.
East Illinois retook the lead 19-15, but Sasha Stauffer delivered the game-winner with less than five minutes remaining and sealed the match.
West Chester is now 1-0 on the season, while the Panther fall to 2-1 overall.
The victory pushed West Chester career record to 34-17. The game was only the fifth loss for Eastern Illinois since joining the NCAA ranks in 2002.
"Today was everything you could have asked for in terms of promoting our sport," Head Coach Tony DeRemer said. "It was an exciting game that went back-and-forth. I think the people and the media there were treated to a really exciting match."
"What a great way to start NCAA play," EIU Head Coach Frank Graziano said. "Both teams played their guts out today; either team could have won. Unfortunately, we came out on the short end. I could not have asked for anything more than what our team displayed out on that field today.
Don't think the Lady Ram's Rugby squad took this game any less serious, but this one had dramatic and historic implications.
Historically, West Chester won the first ever NCAA sanctioned varsity Rugby contest, in comeback fashion, downing the Eastern Illinois Lady Panthers 20-19 in Charleston, Ill on Saturday.
West Chester's first game of the season will live on in history books forever, while Eastern Illinois will look to get back to winning ways.
Last year, Eastern Illinois decimated opponents outscoring 652-42, while going 9-1 last season.
The game results weren't as important as the fact that the game was played in front of 1,237 people. But as action and drama are concerned, this was one interesting way to start.
West Chester quickly fell behind 12-0 into the match and looked like another victim of Panther dominance.
However, West Chester would have little of it as Katy Black brought the scored back to 12-10 with two trys.
West Chester would take the lead after that due to Whitney Hartshorne's five-point try to make the score 15-12.
East Illinois retook the lead 19-15, but Sasha Stauffer delivered the game-winner with less than five minutes remaining and sealed the match.
West Chester is now 1-0 on the season, while the Panther fall to 2-1 overall.
The victory pushed West Chester career record to 34-17. The game was only the fifth loss for Eastern Illinois since joining the NCAA ranks in 2002.
"Today was everything you could have asked for in terms of promoting our sport," Head Coach Tony DeRemer said. "It was an exciting game that went back-and-forth. I think the people and the media there were treated to a really exciting match."
"What a great way to start NCAA play," EIU Head Coach Frank Graziano said. "Both teams played their guts out today; either team could have won. Unfortunately, we came out on the short end. I could not have asked for anything more than what our team displayed out on that field today.
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