Match-up: Central Washington vs. Brigham Young University
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Kickoff: 11 a.m. PST
Location: Wildcat Rugby Pitch
Promotion: Senior Day
Stream: wildcatsports.com/live
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The Central Washington University women's rugby team (3-3, 2-1 NIRA) return to the Wildcat Rugby Pitch for Senior Day on Saturday, as they play their final regular-season game against Brigham Young University. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. PST.
"This weekend will be a big game, especially for our seniors," CWU interim head coach
Trevor Richards said. "It's their senior day and their families will be out in full force to support them and the team. BYU will certainly provide us with stiff competition and I expect the match-up to be physical and free flowing. Our keys to the game will be making our first-up tackles, clear communication and keeping our defensive shape--an area that we have shown growth in as the season has progressed, but there have still been some lapses that have to be negated. This will be my first encounter with the BYU Women's Team, as I've only played against their male counterparts. But they're always a classy, well-coached program and I expect this to be a great match. They'll definitely give us some good feedback on where we are as a team before we head into playoffs in a few weeks."
SENIOR CLASS SET FOR SENDOFF
The octet of
Taylor Duncan,
Jennifer Johnson,
Emma Leonard,
Diandra Nault,
Danielle Peterson,
Samantha Pinson,
Kayla Postula,
Ashley Rolsma and
Asinate Serevi will play their final home game this weekend for the Wildcats. This group of players are the first to navigate the Varsity waters and have combined for a 49-15 record, three national championship appearances and six All-American selections.
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington split their two matches last week against the United States Military Academy and Quinnipiac University. CWU held the lead for the entirety of the match against Army and picked up a 51-13 victory. Sophomores
Michel Navarro and
Suiluana A'au led CWU with two tries apiece. A total of seven different Wildcats tallied tries in the match including:
Bianca Ortiz-Pallen,
Ashley Rolsma,
Kayla Postula, Britanie Martinez and
Samantha Pinson.
The Wildcats lost a hard fought match to NIRA rival Quinnipiac University last Sunday by a score of 29-24, marking their first-ever regular season loss to the Bobcats. The Wildcats were previously 4-0 all-time against Quinnipiac in the regular season, including a 31-22 decision earlier in the season. Navarro, A'au, Rolsma and Postula led the CWU offensive attack, each recording a try in the match.
NIRA POLL TALK
The Wildcats dropped to third in the most recent National Intercollegiate Rugby Association's public coaches poll following their loss to Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac topped the poll after collecting eight first-place votes, followed by Dartmouth College with four.
The NIRA consists of 17 NCAA-sponsored schools with varsity rugby programs across three divisions. As collegiate programs around the country improve on the field as well as off of it, earning more and more support from their respective institutions, NIRA is dedicated to assisting said programs transition to NCAA status. The Complete NIRA Coaches' Poll can be found below:
1. Quinnipiac University (8)
2. Dartmouth College (4)
3. Central Washington University
4. Harvard University
5. American International College
6. Norwich University
7. Army at West Point
8. Notre Dame College
9. University of New England
10. West Chester University
11. Brown University
12. Bowdoin College
13. Sacred Heart University
14. Molloy College
15. LIU, Post
16. Mount St. Mary's University
17. Castleton University
-CWU-
