ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Central Washington University women's rugby team travels to Missouri to take on Lindenwood University.

FIXTURE INFORMATION
Saturday, Feb. 22
1:00 p.m. (CT) (11:00 a.m. PT)
Vs Lindenwood
Hunter Stadium
St. Charles, MO

QUOTABLE
"Most people shy away from grand challenges, like playing the most consistent and dominant college rugby team in the country," CWU Head Coach Trevor Richards said.  "For us, this is why we play at this level.  Are we the underdog?  For sure.  Is it a tall order to walk into the lion's den, start a fight with that beast, and then claw and scrap your way out of there?  Without a doubt.  But that's how we like it.  To be the best, you have to play the best, especially on their turf.  No matter the result this weekend, I can promise you it will be a war that neither team will forget anytime soon."

SCOUTING LINDENWOOD
The Lions are a perfect 5-0 on this season with their last win coming over the Midwest All-Stars, 43-38.

Prior to their victory of MSA, Lindenwood took down Brigham Young University, 63-0.   The women's rugby first XV has not lost a 15's match since September 2017 versus the WPL Glendale Merlins, so the Lions extended their winning streak to over two years.  In the five matches played this fall, they outscored their opponents 387-36. 

Lindenwood did fall in a friendly to the St. Louis Sabres of the Mid-America Rugby Football Union.  They compete in Division II and are a long-standing program in the St. Louis area.  

In their contest against Penn State University on Oct. 26, the Lions blanked the Nittany Lions 104-0. It was the second largest win of the fall.  Lindennwood opened their fall with a 125-0 shutout of Davenport.

LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington lost to the Seattle Saracens, 43-20.

The Saracens offense went to work quickly, grounding their first try under the uprights in the third minute.  Wildcat alumni Leah Ingold knocked through the conversion for a 7-0 advantage.  They punched it in again eight minutes later for a 14-0 advantage.
 
Central Washington answered back in the 16th minute.  A try from the wing made it 14-5. 
 
A penalty by the Wildcats in the 20th minute in front of the uprights gave way to a penalty goal from Ingold, extending the Saracens lead to 17-5.  Both offenses went quiet until the 37th minute.  Seattle found the try zone again, taking a 24-5 lead.  The Saracens added another try before the half for a 31-5 lead after 40 minutes of play.
 
Alycia Namosimalua plowed through the Saracens line and grounded the ball for a try just two minutes into the second stanza, cutting Seattle's lead to 31-10.
 
Seattle found their way in for a try again in the 43rd and 52nd minutes for a 38-10 lead.  Central's Suiliana Sooialo A'au found the try line in the 57th minute and a 38-15 score line.
 
The Saracens added a try from former Wildcat Jennifer Johnson in the 67th minute from the wing, but did not knock the conversion through.  Central's final try came in the 72nd minute when Bianca Ortiz-Pallen fought her way in.

CWU v LINDENWOOD HISTORY
The Wildcats and Lions met twice in 2019, both coming in the spring.  Lindenwood claimed both matches.  

In the second meeting, in Greenville, South Carolina, the Lions captured a 70-5 win.  At the previous contest, it was Lindenwood with a 39-5 victory.