ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 5) – The Central Washington University women's rugby team hosts Lindenwood University at Tomlinson Stadium.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
vs Lindenwood
Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, Wash.
Live Video
QUOTABLE
"What a way to usher in the new era of Wildcat Rugby with an absolute war in the newly renovated Tomlinson Stadium" CWU Head Coach
Trevor Richards said. "Lindenwood is the premier team in the country at the moment and they have a healthy stock of highly skilled athletes to complement their great coaching. They're also several games into their fall campaign, while we just got our season started last week, so there's certainly some growth that we need to show from last week. It's going to be a massive test for our team, but I have full confidence that we will take the fight to them and show the local community what these powerful ladies can do."
SCOUTING LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY
The Lions enter the week at 4-1 in 2018. Lindenwood is 3-0 in matches played by its "A" squad, but 1-1 with its "B" squad.
The Lions' first side picked up an 82-14 victory over the Kansas City Jazz Women on Sept. 29. They put 50 points on the board in the first half, while shutting out KC. The Lions added another 32 points in the second half, but allowed the Jazz to score 14 points in the contest's final 10 minutes.
"It is great having competitive women's club teams close by that can give us good matches," Lindenwood Head Coach Billy Nicholas said afterward. "We can all take a lot away from both games for areas of team, individual, and coaching improvement. We are thankful for these tests that will continue to help us grow and challenge one another."
Prior to their drubbing over KC, the first side recorded victories against the Glendale Merlins (29-17) and Life West (38-24).
In their season opener against Life West, the Lions played a hard-fought but close opening half. The score stood at 5-5 after 15 minutes, before Lindenwood captured a 19-14 lead at the halftime whistle. The Lions generated breathing room in the second half, tacking on 19 points and holding Life West to just 10. Lindenwood played through the entirety of it suited players, sending 23 different players onto the pitch.
Against Glendale, the first half was another tight battle with Lindenwood coming out on top 21-17 after the first half. The Lions' defense held Glendale in check in the second half, keeping them off the scoreboard and tacking on eight point offensively.
WILDCAT 2018-19 OPENER
The fixture against Lindenwood marks the Wildcats' first contest of the new season.
In last year's XV's, the Wildcats finished 4-3 overall. They fell to Quinnipiac University in the NIRA Postseason, 39-26.
During the 2017-18 season, the Wildcats blanked Brigham Young University, 55-0, and picked up a solid win against Army, 51-13.
The match will also be the first rugby match played on the newly renovated Tomlinson Stadium and its new turf playing surface.
