UNI Rugby Love

Wichita Write-Up by Katie White

2009-03-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

While other college students were heading out to Spring Break vacations, the UNI Women’s Rugby team was getting down to business. UNIWR opened its spring season with a trip to Wichita, Kansas during March 13^th-15^th. The women went 3-0, outscoring their opponents with a combined total of 122 to 24.

The first match of the trip pitted mostly UNI veterans against the University of Wyoming. This being the first actual game for UNI since November, the team played well as a unit, winning sixty-six to five. UNI dominated Wyoming, with scores from veterans Chelsea Drumheller, Kayla Soliday, Jacki Bercovici, and team captain Kassie Drey. Freshman Shannon Zweber contributed a score, as did freshman Kylie Ingvall in her first rugby match ever. Bercovici was excellent, making seven of ten kicks. Wyoming scored once, but was held scoreless in the second half.

The second match had the Wichita Valkyries, a local women’s team, facing UNI. UNI head coach Steve Murra used this opportunity to get his newest and younger players experienced. For some, this was the first rugby match in which they had ever played. They fared well against the older Wichita team, coming out with a seventeen to five victory. Chelsey Ringsdorf and Danielle Burras led the scoring, with Jordan Gage successfully converting a kick.

The weekend culminated in the final competition between UNI and Texas A&M. Texas A&M came into the weekend holding a ninth-place national ranking in Division I. UNI put up points early on but still struggled a little the first fifteen minutes of the game. A Texas player was issued a yellow card and sin-binned, giving UNI a one player advantage. UNI capitalized and scored, and continued to improve play in the second half. Scores from Ringsdorf, Drey, Krista Steger, Jessica Gibbs and freshman Beth Carver secured a UNI victory over Texas A&M, thirty-nine to fourteen.

UNIWR next heads to Bloomington, Indiana for the Division I Midwest Final Four Tournament, held March 27^th-29^th. UNI will face Grand Valley State in one bracket, with Iowa State playing Indiana University in the other bracket.

Questions, comments, and concerns can be directed to the team advisor and manager, Jennifer Murra, at jennifer.murra@uni.edu.

Midwest Champs Baby!!

2009-03-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

After a rain, sleet, hail, snow, muddy fields, and only 80 minutes, UNIWR beat Indiana University for the Midwest Championship 36-14.

GO PANTHERS!

eRugbynews Article (3/28/09)

2009-03-29T04:55:00.000-07:00

UNI Puched in MW College Women Semis
Saturday Mar 28, 2009 in Women Colleges

March 28, 2009 –What many thought would be a one-sided game proved to be an epic battle between two well-coached Midwest women’s college teams as the favored University of Northern Iowa were given all they could handle by Grand Valley State University, not to DI rugby this season.This cold and rainy match started out with the big UNI forwards pounding the ball off the fringe, time and time again, and GVSU spinning the ball out to its speed as often as possible. The score was low but the defense was tenacious on both sides with lots of big hits and big runs. At the end of regulation the score was tied at 10. In the first overtime both teams traveled back and forth from goal line to goal line but were unable to punch it in. In the first ten minutes of the second overtime, the game was played on UNI’s goal line. Unfortunately, GVSU was unable to capitalize. The second 10 minutes of the second overtime ran completely opposite. With 150 seconds to go, UNI was able to capitalize on a missed tackle and scored what ended up being the winning try.”The game was a great representation of what a well matched rugbycompetition should be,” said GVSU coach Bob Ricthammer. “Both teams fought to the bitter of this 120-minute battle.”Sunday, UNI will play Indiana University, also winners Saturday, for the Championship with both teams moving on to the national Round of 16. GVSU will play Iowa State University for 3rd place.

Midwest Final Four

2009-03-28T18:57:00.001-07:00

Hey All- Well after 120 minutes of rugby we defeated Grand Valley State University 17-10. Tomorrow we will be playing Indiana at noon (EST), a rematch from last year's midwest final four over in Iowa Falls. More details to come...

Rugby Love,

Kelsey

Spring 2009

2009-03-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the UNI Women's Rugby blog. This blog will be written by UNI Women's Rugby Players and Coaches. We hope we can update this as we are on the road playing games as well as when we are home to give a little insight to the UNI Rugby Experience. We hope you enjoy!

Opening weekend in Wichita, Kansas.

The UNI Women's Rugby Club traveled to Wichita, Kansas to take on Wyoming, Wichita Valkeries, and Texas A&M. The team beat Wyoming 66-5 and Texas A&M 39-14. The rookies took on the Wichita Club and defeated them 16-5.