Pre-Game Notes (PDF) |
Game Program (PDF)
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After blanking visiting Minnesota last weekend, the Eastern Illinois women's rugby squad will have another go at a Big Ten power this coming Sunday as the Panthers will host Michigan at 11 am at Lakeside Field.
The Panthers enter the contest at 5-1 on the year having already earned four shut-outs on the season.
ONLY THE SECOND MEETING ...
The meeting on Sunday will only be the second all-time between the Panthers and Wolverines, as EIU last hosted Michigan back in 2004. Eastern ran past the Big Blue squad, 74-0.
COACH GRAZIANO SAYS ...
“We have not played Michigan in years,” said head coach
Frank Graziano, “but based on their result from last week, defeating Grand Valley State, 14-7, right now they are probably playing the best of any team we'll met this season.
“This should be quite a game this weekend and they are definitely an unknown as we have no tape on them and from the chatter, I've gathered that their style of play is similar to Northern Iowa, which we always struggle with it seems. Even though we were able to blank UNI this season, they had several new players on their team still learning the system, while Michigan is a very upper-class heavy team with lots of experience.
“We have been watching the UNI tape from last year in preparation for this weekend. Michigan is very strong in their forwards and have a nice ball-control game plan, which will make it difficult to tackle and get the ball away from them. That means that the game becomes very field-position oriented. If we allow them within 15-20 yards of our goal line, they will be very difficult to keep off the scoreboard. So our defense needs to be solid and we must control their middle attack.
“They are definitely doing something right if they were able to beat Grand Valley, a team that ran over us, so we'll use the first 10-15 minutes of the game on Sunday to figure out what is going on. Actually, we hope that the 'unknown' will help in our favor as well, since they haven't seen us play either. The key will be who is able to control the game within the first 15 minutes or so.”
EVERYONE HEALTHY ...
Graziano says that as of now, the squad is healthy and available for the weekend. “We rested Stefanie Mahon and didn't really need her last weekend, and she has had great practices this week and will be back on Sunday. We will certainly need to put our best team on the field for this game.
McKINNEY KICKS HER WAY INTO THE TOP OF THE CAREER LIST ...
With six games under her belt this season senior
Coartney McKinney has already kicked her way onto the top of the EIU record books for two-point conversion numbers.
She nailed three last weekend to up her all-time tally to 124. Although she ended up missing her first four attempts in the rout of Minnesota, her first kick of the day was right down the middle and with that kick has eclipsed the career total by former EIU standout Jamie Buenzow (2001-05) who ended her four years as a Panther 121 conversions.
“This is a very impressive accomplishment for Coartney,” said Graziano. “Jamie was a very good kicker and what took her four full seasons, Coartney was able to top in just over two years. With lots of games yet to be played this season, she is going to definitely continue to put up some impressive numbers.”
... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID
