Pre-Game Notes (PDF) | Game Program (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After playing one of their best games of the season in the 34-0 win at Northern Iowa last weekend, the Eastern Illinois women's rugby squad is set to host Minnesota on Sunday. The 11 am contest will be the first of two straight home games at EIU's own Lakeside Field.

EIU leads the all-time series over the Golden Gophers, having blanked them in the two previous matchups. EIU won, 77-0, at home in 2006 and downed Minnesota, 49-0, on the road last year

QUOTING COACH GRAZIANO ...
“We have been studying last year's film against Minnesota and going over it,” said Graziano. “The important aspect for us is to continue to improve on the adjustments we made prior to the Northern Iowa game last week, specifically the position and personnel adjustment part. While it was indeed successful against UNI there is still much room for improvement. So we've been working on that all week.”

KELSI WRIGHT PLAYER TO WATCH
The Panther Player to watch this week will be Kelsi Wright, as the sophomore #8 currently leads in the squad in a variety of positions, specifically tying for the most solo stops and owning the best assisted tackle numbers.

“Kelsi has played at a high level every minute of every single game this season,” said Graziano. “She has really done well and continues to be our most consistent player. She's put up some good defensive numbers, although hasn't had as many long runs this year, but I'm very pleased with her performance.”

Wright currently sports 33 solo and 16 assisted tackles on the season and ranks in the steals-at-tackle stat category as well with three. She does have one try and two assists to her credit this year, with the five-pointer and assist coming at Purdue. Her 10 solo tackles at Grand Valley State helped her set a new career mark and was one of the few good statistical numbers to come out of that disappointing game.

McKINNEY TO KICK HER WAY INTO THE TOP OF THE CAREER LIST
Heading into just the sixth game of the season, senior Coartney McKinney needs just one more two-point conversion kick to set a new career mark for conversions. She currently ties former standout Jamie Buenzow (2001-05) with 121 conversions.

“This will be a very impressive accomplishment for Coartney,” said Graziano. “Jamie was a very good kicker and what took her four full seasons to get the number, Coartney will have topped in just over two years. With lots of games yet to be played this season, she is going to definitely put up some impressive statistics.

“The remainder of the season I expect that we'll get Shelby Musselman some action as well as she is our ' 'kicker in waiting'. She has been practicing along side Coartney and has good technique as well. So I will try and get her out there to take some kicks at some point as well.”

NO POST-WIN LET DOWN 
Coach Graziano has stressed with the squad to not get down emotionally after last week's big win at UNI.

“We have definitely addressed it,” he said. “I would think that coming home and playing in front our home crowd will certainly provide a lot of energy. I hope we are able to build on that performance last week and to play even better against Minnesota on Sunday. I believe its important to continue our momentum thru the middle of our season. From a coaching standpoint, we would be disappointed if we don't have a good performance on the field this weekend.”

IT'S FAMILY WEEKEND
With Family Weekend in full action this coming weekend, the Panthers are expecting a nice crowd on Sunday.

“I believe we'll have a good crowd,” said Graziano “We continue to have great fan support, even on several of our road trips. The squad is looking forward to coming here for Family Weekend as it is always extra special to be playing at home during this time of the season.”

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