Pre-Game Release (PDF) |
Game Program (PDF)
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After playing three consecutive road games, Eastern Illinois women's rugby returns to town and will host Northern Iowa for Homecoming this Sunday (Oct. 23) afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Lakeside Rugby Field.
EIU enters the game with a perfect 6-0 mark on the season, while UNI is also undefeated heading into the weekend.
ALL-TIME EIU-UNI SERIES HISTORY...
Sunday's contest will be the fourth meeting between the two Panther squads, with EIU holding a 2-1 series lead.
After dropping the first meeting by a score of 25-5 way back in 2000, Eastern has won the last two matchups.
EIU scratched past UNI in a last-second 22-20 home thriller in 2009 and then traveled to Cedar Falls, Iowa last fall where the squad came away with a 34-0 rout of the Purple Panthers.
HEAD COACH FRANK GRAZIANO ...
Sporting a 106-19 all-time record, EIU skipper
Frank Graziano enters his 13th season leading the Panther rugby squad. He currently owns an 90-7 NCAA season tally, which began with the 2002 squad.
COACH GRAZIANO SAYS ...
“Although we enjoyed our recent travels, especially last weekend at Quinnipiac, it will be good to be home again this weekend.
I am expecting a tough game versus UNI, as we don't match up very well with them... they are bigger and have a style of play that we have a bit of trouble defending… we still need to be better in contact situations which we worked on in practice … part of that is that we have an inexperienced squad with six freshmen… they have done a fantastic job of learning the game but they are still a bit uncomfortable in contact situations which will take some time.
Everyone is healthy so we'll have our sixteen players ready to go… our athletic training staff is doing an outstanding job this year… they monitor things at practice very well and do a good job of taking care of us.
UNI is also undefeated and playing very well… they recently put up huge numbers against Minnesota… so they are obviously playing very well at this point of the season so I expect a good game.
It's pretty rare to be home during Homecoming festivities… so we are excited to be a part of it… as a squad we will join a few other EIU teams in actually partaking in the parade on Saturday morning.”
TICKLE 'EM PINK ...
Sunday's home game versus UNI has been designated the 'Pink Game' as the team will accept donations and sell pink shirts to assist the Susan G. Komen fight against breast cancer.
As in the past, Panther players will be donning their best pink laces, among other items, at the game in honor of fans, family and friends who are battling or lost their fight to breast cancer.
WEEKEND WEATHER PROJECTION ...
According to weather.com, Sunday temps are expected to reach a high of 63-degrees and a low of 43. Times of sun and clouds are being projected with just a 10% chance of precipitation.
... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID
