Men's Rugby | 1/25/2018 3:52:00 PM
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 25) – The Central Washington University men's rugby team takes on Lindenwood University on Saturday (Jan.27) in the Wildcats' 2018 home opener.
"A huge challenge lies ahead of us this Saturday," CWU Head Coach
Todd Thornley said. "Lindenwood is a side with a tone of firepower all over the park which will challenge us defensively. Our young side is extremely excited at the potential of playing at home and taking on a collegiate powerhouse, as we continue to build a healthy rivalry between the two programs. If we can match their physicality and limit front-foot ball then we have a very good chance of knocking them over. We will lean on the experience of those who were in St. Charles last year and tasted success to lead the way and help our nine starters who did not face them last time around."
Lindenwood is currently rank fifth in D1A, while the Wildcats sit at 17
th. The Lions are 7-0 on the season with their last win coming in November over the University of Delaware, 83-0.
The Lions are the 2017 USA Rugby Collegiate 7's National Champions and the semi-finalists in the Collegiate Rugby Championship. In the 2016-17 season, the Lions finished in the final eight in D1A. The program has had 22 Collegiate 15's All-Americans, nine Collegiate 7's All-Americans, and six internationally capped players.
Last year the Wildcats and Lions met in February, where Central Washington came away with a 21-3 win.
Tresten Keys and
Larry Peneueta scored for the Wildcats, while
Ian Wright added the conversions.
The Wildcats are coming off of a 45-24 victory over the Seattle Saracens.
Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Wildcat Rugby Pitch.
