ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 18) – The Central Washington University men's rugby team won its seventh consecutive NCRC 7's National Qualifier tournament, defeating Gonzaga University in the finals.  The Wildcats went 3-0 on the day with wins over Oregon, Western Washington, and Gonzaga. Central Washington finished the NCRC 7's with a perfect 6-0 record. 
 
"Six for six is always good," CWU Head Coach Tony Pacheco said afterward.  "I'm really happy with how the boys played.  We put together some really class tries at times and they played well together.  They were enjoying their sevens, which was good to see.  They were playing for each other and off of each other, which was really nice to have."
 
Central opened the second day of the tournament with a 33-0 victory over the University of Oregon.
 
Dominic Lindstrom recorded two tries to start the match in the 4^th and 6^th minutes with conversions on both from Ian Wright.  Lindstrom finished the tournament with six tries, including a hat trick against WSU Tri-Cities on the first day.
 
In the eighth minute a strong stiff arm and a 65-metre sprint from Scott Dean gave the Wildcats another try and a 26-0 advantage.  Dean found the score sheet again in the second half with his second try of the match. 
 
"Scott did well all weekend," Pacheco added.  "He's really the swing man between the two halves of the field making decisions on how we want to attack."
 
Shelby Williams added a late try in the 15^th minute, sealing the 33-0 victory. 
 
The Wildcats ran through rival Western Washington in their second match of the day with a 40-0 final. 
 
Seth Halliman grounded the ball in-goal in the 4^th minute to open the scoring.  Aladdin Schirmer, Wright, Vili Toulta'u, and Williams each recorded a try against the Vikings.
 
The NCRC 7's was the first time Halliman put on a CWU jersey. 
 
"We have a great team, a core group of good guys," Halliman said.  "We had a good week of practices leading up and it went well for us.  It's a great experience to grow in the game and get better."
 
Although having a strong showing, Halliman was quick to point out he was but a piece to a much larger puzzle.
 
"My teammates set me up; it's just luck," Halliman noted, referencing his hat trick.  "Anyone could have done it."
 
Halliman rejoined the Wildcats after attending the US Eagles 7's Camp.
 
"Seth is a class player and it took him awhile to figure out how his teammates played on his first run out as a Wildcat, but you can see the talent is there," Pacheco said. 
 
Halliman finished the NCRC 7's with nine tries and added a hat trick against Gonzaga in the final.
 
Wright kicked 11 conversions on the second day alone.  He also crossed the try line six times on the weekend.  His restarts were a key facet of the Wildcats' strategy.
 
"If you can win restarts in sevens at the rate we were your opponent isn't going to have enough possession to hurt you," Pacheco noted.  "Ian [Wright] had a good two days with the boot and we had some height with the forwards who got in the air and won balls for us."
 
Central Washington allowed just five points on Sunday.
 
"It's always big to go 6-0 in a tournament there's definitely some good competition out there," Wright said.  "We have been working hard in 15's and have had some good sessions in sevens."
 
In the final match, the Wildcats routed Gonzaga 60-5. 
 
Along with Halliman's hat trick, six different CWU players crossed the try line.  Martin Van Der Wal recorded his first try of the season.   Corey Nuti, Lindstrom, and Cameron Marek each notched a try.  Wright added a pair of tries.
 
"Marek has a lot of pace and opens things up for some guys on the field," Pacheco said.  "Conditions on Sunday weren't ideal for Cam, being the wet surface, it was like a slick track.  It's like getting a sports car out there, he's going to spin his wheels a bit, but he's a big time threat for us and opens up space for the guys."
 
The 6-0 effort from the Wildcats ensures them a shot at a national championship.

"We are recognized as the program out here in the west and keeping the stranglehold on that is great," Pacheco noted.  "But to know we are going to compete for a national tournament is the most important this for us.  It is why guys come out here and we want to raise those championship banners."
 
The Wildcats will compete for a sevens national championship in May 2016.