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CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois women's rugby squad completed a second consecutive undefeated season on Saturday, as the Panthers run past a Midwest College All-Star squad, 85-5.  The win moved EIU to 10-0 on the year and extended the program-best winning streak to 26 games.

Prior to the start of the game, five Panther players were honored and recognized for their years of service to the EIU Rugby program, which is an annual tradition on the home finale each season. Seniors Chase Cain, Ashley Jenkins, Crystal Jones, and Stephanie Militello, as well as early graduate, Tiffany Kennedy, enjoyed a special pre-game ceremony held in their honor.

Newcomer Lauren Doyle finished her freshman season on a high-note, leading all Panthers with five trys to earn 25 points and a team-high four runs-over-20-yards.  Senior Ashley Jenkins added three trys of her own as well as three steals-at-tackle, while fellow freshman Kayla Heal ran in two five-point scores as well and three runs-over-20-yards.

EIU jumped out to an early 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game, as Doyle ran in a score off an assist from junior Coartney McKinney.  McKinney would finish with three dishes on the day, to lead all players.

Halfway thru the first half and the Panthers were up 33-0 enroute to a 57-0 halftime advantage.

The second half saw a bit less action offensively as EIU scored four straight before the visitors earned a late try for the final 85-5 score.

McKinney had a nice kicking day, going 10-11 on two-point conversions.

Chase Cain's 16 total solo stops helped the senior earn a new single-season tackle mark with 110 total on the year.  McKinney added five tackles of her own as every Panther player on the field earned at least one stop in the rout.

As a team, the Panthers added to the program-high winning streak of 26 straight wins, which dates back to the middle of 2007.  EIU also set single-season marks for solo tackles with 600 and runs-over-20-yards with 94 total, while out-scoring the opposition 618-61 this season, for an average final score of 62-6.

14 current letterwinners from the 2009 squad are set to return for the 2010 campaign.

2009 Pre-Game Senior Day Recognition Script:

"Ladies and gentlemen, before today's game, the rugby coaching staff and Eastern Illinois Athletics would like to take a moment to honor 5 seniors for their contributions to Panther Rugby and Eastern Illinois University.

Our first senior is #Ashley Jenkins#. Ashley came to us from of England where she attended high school and began her introduction to rugby. Ashley is a 4-year letter winner playing at both the fullback and center positions. In her first two seasons, she quickly became the stopping force to the opposition attack and will go down as one of our outstanding Panther Rugby fullbacks. Last season, she moved to the center position and became one of the key links to our attack and one of the main tacklers in our midfield defense. Ashley is ranked 7th all-time in RUNS OVER TWENTY YARDS with 22 and is ranked 6th all-time in STEALS also with 22.

In 2009, as the senior center her task was to play the best in her career and to link all the newcomers together in the backline. Ashley did not disappoint: This season she recorded new personal highs in TACKLES with 47; in ASSISTED TACKLES with 13; in POINTS with 49; in TRYS with 9; and in ASSISTS with 11.

In her entire 4 year career Ashley has only missed one game; playing in 39 of 40 contests. A communications major, who is set to enter the ARMY upon graduation, the daughter of Barbara and John Jenkins….CONGRATULATIONS… # 00…Ashley Jenkins.

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Our next senior is #Chase Cain#. Chase is also a 4-year letter winner coming over from the EIU swim team her freshman year to become one of Panther Rugby's greatest defenders. In 2007, she won our MOST IMPROVED AWARD and captured our OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE AWARD last season.

Chase sits 3rd all-time in ASSISTED TACKLES with 109 and ranks 3rd in career STEALS with 33.

This season, against Northern Iowa, Chase set a new single game tackle record with 28 and prior to today's contest will end her Panther career ranked second in solo TACKLES with 235 currently.

This afternoon, after Chase records at least 6 solo tackles she will have set a new season record for TACKLES becoming the first player in Panther Rugby history to earn over 100 tackles in a season.

A Psychology major….the daughter of the late Deborah Cain and Scot Cain….CONGRATULATIONS….# 19…..Chase Cain

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Our next senior is #Tiffany Kennedy#. Certainly one of Panther Rugby's most dominant lineout players, spectators and fans have enjoyed not only her hustle and competitive spirit but her performances in the lineout the past three seasons. Tiffany enjoys the competition at the lineout knowing each and every ball she catches begins the platform for all our attacking plays and her steals in the lineout rank her among our best.

Knowing this to be her final season to wear the blue and gray, Tiffany set her goals to make this her best season and she has delivered, setting personal highs in TACKLES with 30, and STEALS with 5, while recording her first 2 ASSISTS this season. Tiffany is also tied for 9th in career ASSISTED TACKLES with 54.

Tiffany is a 3- year letter winner and starter and earned our MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD in 2008. An Education major….the daughter of Lin and Jim Kennedy and sister of Ryan Kennedy…...CONGRATULATIONS…..# 3….Tiffany Kennedy

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Next up is senior is #Stephanie Militello#. Stephanie is a 4-year letter winner and one of Panther Rugby's multi-sport athletes as she competed in both rugby and softball her first two years. In 2006, she received both the Outstanding Freshman Award and Outstanding Defensive Award while etching single game and season tackle records. In 2007 and 2008, Stephanie was once again the Outstanding Defensive Award winner setting numerous defensive records in the process. All-time, she sits 5th in STEALS with 26, and 5th in ASSISTED TACKLES with 84.

Stephanie also holds several offensive bests, including being tied for 7th in career RUNS OVER TWENTY YARDS with 22, 7th all-time in TRYS with 24 and her 120 POINTS ranks her 10th.

This season Stephanie set a new single game tackle record with 33 in the Northern Iowa game adding to her career tackle record of 347. An Exercise Science major and daughter of Christine Militello and sister of Warren Militello……CONGRATULATIONS….# 12….Stephanie Militello

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Our final senior is #Crystal Jones#. Crystal is another of our many multi-sport athletes competing in both rugby and track. The 4-year letter winner holds numerous individual career rugby records. As a red-shirt freshman in 2006, she led the team in scoring with 150 POINTS en route to earning our Outstanding Offensive Player Award.

She holds the single game mark for TRYS with 8, and also the single game record for POINTS scored with 40. Her all-time 20 STEALS ranks her 7th in the EIU record book.

As a senior, one of Crystal's season goals was to lead her team by example and tallying her best season of her career. She was instrumental in last second wins over Milwaukee and Northern Iowa, making crucial plays at key moments to help her team to victory.

As an offensive threat, Crystal is one of Panther Rugby's greatest scorers. She is 2nd all-time in RUNS OVER TWENTY YARDS with 60 and ranks 2nd in both career TRYS and POINTS with 89 and 445, respectively.

A graduate student completing her masters degree in Exercise Physiology…the daughter of the late Ron Jones and Cathy Jones and sister of Denise Jones….CONGRATULATIONS….# 4…..Crystal Jones

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Ladies and Gentlemen….Since 2006, these senior student-athletes and their teammates have posted a record of 36-3 and have the highest winning percentage of any senior class in the history of the program, enjoying an undefeated season in 2008 and helping to set a new current Panther Rugby winning streak of 25 wins in a row.

Panther fans your Panther Rugby Senior Class of 2009"

.... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID