Boxscore (PDF) 

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Senior Crystal Jones ran in two trys, while junior Coartney McKinney went 2-of-5 on two point conversions, as the Eastern Illinois women's rugby squad defeated a scrappy Grand Valley State squad, 32-0, at Lakeside Field.

The win improved the Panthers to 2-0 on the season, while extending their program-high winning streak to 18 straight victories.  The contest was EIU's home opener and was played on a gorgeous sunny day in front of a festive crowd of 204.

McKinney got the Panthers on the board in the fourth minute of the game, nailing a three-point penalty kick thru the uprights.  Five minutes later, freshman center Lauren Doyle ran in her third try of the season, and McKinney followed with a two-point conversion to give the Panthers a 10-0 lead.

Both squads would continue to battle it out for field position, as the Panthers got back on the scoreboard in the 28th minute as Ashley Jenkins fell on the ball in the Panther endzone to help EIU lead 15-0.  The conversion failed, but Crystal Jones would add to the EIU point total, earning her fifth five-point try in her senior year.  Yet again McKinney's conversion went just wide.

However, McKinney had a chance at another penalty kick opportunity with time running out in the first half, but her kick just missed, as EIU went into halftime up 20-0.

Jones would score off a nice Jenkins pass to give EIU the 25-point cushion.  Narissa Ramirez would earn her third try of the year, falling on the ball in the endzone to lead the Panthers 30-0.  A final two-point conversion from McKinney accounted for the final score.

The game was a defensive affair, with EIU earning an unofficial tackle advantage of 36 to 33.  Eastern also won the line-outs, 15 to 9, while GVSU finished with a 14-11 advantage in scrums won, all unofficial totals.

The Panthers will next prepare for a noon matchup with Iowa State to be played next Saturday afternoon, as EIU travels to Ames, Iowa for the battle.  Last season, Eastern gutted out a 26-21 win at home, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the all-time series history with the Cyclones.

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