Men's Rugby | 4/22/2016 11:07:00 AM
BERKELEY, CA (April. 22) – The Central Washington University men's rugby team is set a semifinal matchup against the University of California, Berkeley in the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup that will commence Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. (PST).
"Yesterday we had a good session," Head coach
Tony Pacheco said over the phone. "It was full contact kind of stuff, guys were aggressive and the tempo was good."
Saturday will mark the fourth straight year the Wildcats have reached the semifinal round of the Varsity Cup. The team ousted UCLA in the opening round before traveling to the University of Utah for a 58-5 win over the Utes.
According to Pacheco, the Wildcats will need to do numerous things well on the pitch Saturday afternoon, but one thing above all.
"We have to win the penalty count," Pacheco said. "It's something we didn't do for the last two weeks. We're generally a pretty aggressive and that's how I want them playing, but at the same time, we have to adjust to the referee."
The Golden Bears will be looking for their 18
th win of the season, and the No. 2 team in the country seems to an apt opponent.
"They are a classic Cal team, very talented in set pieces, skills players out wide and guys that can kick the ball," Pacheco said. "They are a very talented team and we're going to have to play our best to win."
The winner of Saturday's match will await the winner of the second semifinal match between BYU and Arkansas State. The Varsity Cup national championship final will be played, May 7, in Provo Utah.
