ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Women's Rugby Team will open up their 2024-25 campaign hosting the University of Oregon Ducks at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 19th from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.
Last season the 'Cats went 5-9 overall falling in the first round of the USA Rugby D1 Elite Playoffs to Life 28-3. The Wildcats did earn the season sweep over BYU by scores of 22-12 and 22-20 and traveled down to the CRAA USA Rugby College Women's Premier 7's National Championship in Houston where they went 1-4 defeating Penn State 21-5.
The 'Cats lost a lot of talented seniors and leadership but return an eager group ready to make a statement in D1 Elite Rugby. The squad this year features 13 freshmen ready to make their mark on CWU rugby under Head Coach Matt Ramirez's fourth season at the helm.
CWU returns their top three try-scorers from the 2023-24 season.
Lilly Thomas finished the season with seven tries while
Jessica Postle and
Winnie Namosimalua each had six and five tries, respectively.
Lauren DiPasquale,
Shaylee Coulter-Fa'amafu, Postle, Namosimalua, and Thomas all earned Second Team D1 Elite All-American honors last season and over the summer DiPasquale was selected to the USA Women's U20 Team and traveled with the team to Wales to compete in the TransAtlantic Quad Series.
Last season the Ducks finished with a 7-4 record and finished the season as the runners up for the Collegiate Rugby Women's D1 Club 7's Cup Championship, falling to Claremont 17-7. So far this season, the Ducks split their squad with each half competing at Babbfest against Oregon State, Western Washington, Western Oregon, Willamette, Lewis & Clark, and Pacific down in Portland. The Wildcats and Ducks have met twice back in the 2014-15 season with the 'Cats taking the 69-12 victory in Ellensburg on Nov. 22, 2014, then winning down in Eugene, Ore. 63-0 on Feb. 21, 2015.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 26 as they travel to BYU to take on the Cougars at 10:00 a.m. PST on Helaman Field in Provo, Utah in the 'Cats first D1 Elite matchup.
