RELEASE (PDF)
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- A continued undefeated season is on the line on Saturday as the Eastern Illinois women's rugby squad hosts midwest power Northern Iowa at 1 pm at Lakeside Field. The EIU Panthers are 5-0 on the season and are in the midst of a program-high 21-game winning streak heading into the game against the Purple Panthers of UNI.
PANTHERS BACK AT HOME ...
... Eastern continues to take it's program-high and current 21-game winning streak into Saturday's home contest versus Northern Iowa.
... Last week, the Panthers picked up an impressive 49-0 victory at Minnesota, with the game being played in a steady rain and cold 45-degree temperature.
... The Panthers have recorded 46 shutouts since moving to NCAA Division Status back in 2002.
... Since going DI back 2002, EIU has outscored the opposition an astounding 4,302 to 364, for an average final score of 58-5 the past eight years.
SECOND-EVER MEETING ...
Saturday's game with UNI will mark the second time the two Panther squads have met on the rugby field. The first and only meeting came way back in 2000, prior to Eastern moving to NCAA Division I status. In that game, the Purple Panthers of Northern Iowa picked up a 25-5 win over EIU at home in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
GRAZIANO'S '100' ...
Saturday's game against the Purple Panthers of Northern Iowa will mark head coach Frank Graziano's 100th game as skipper of the Eastern rugby squad. Now in his 11th season, he is currently 82-17 (82.8%) all-time since joining back in 1999.
GRAZIANO ON UNI ...
“Well, this is it… this is by far the best team on our schedule this season, and we have known that all year... the kids understand the significance… they have approached practice very seriously this week, even more seriously then usually… they know that this may make (or break) the season... as far as being undefeated, the winning streak, the whole thing… hopefully there will be a break in the weather… Saturday is looking okay right now… it is going to be a good game… there's no surprises from them… and we wont surprise them too much either… it will all come down to playing… making the right decisions at the right time… this is a good time in the season to face a tough team like UNI, as we are about at our peak… it has been easier to coach in practice now because aal the new players now understand the game and the rules, etc… so this is a good time to have a really good test… for the seniors, 60% of their final year is over, so they obviously understand the seriousnous of this game as well.”
UP NEXT FOR EIU ...
Next week the Panthers continue their homestand, hosting Missouri at 11 am on Saturday, October 17. EIU owns a 1-0 series lead over the Tigers, after downing the Big 12 power 68-0 back in 2002.
.... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID
