Boxscore (PDF)
MARIETTA, Ga. -- Eastern Illinois women's rugby lost on the road to Life University on Saturday (Oct. 4) afternoon, 61-0, to drop the Panthers to 1-3 on the early season.
The shutout marks only the second time since advancing to NCAA DI status in 2002 that the Panthers have failed to score in a full rugby contest (not Rugby 7s), with the last time Eastern failed to score was last year's 38-0 road loss at Davenport.  Unfortunately the 61 point defeat is also is a program worst as it marked the first-ever meeting between the two rugby squads, as Life is a first year certified NAIA member.
The host team scored four times in the first half, earning one two-point conversion for the 22-0 halftime lead, then poured on the offense in the second half off seven trys and a pair of two-pointers.
Defensively, freshman Jessica Maricich led the Panthers with 16 solo stops and added four assisted tackles, while seniors Carissa Burge and Kim Youhas added 11 solo tackles themselves. Â All three added their name to the EIU single-game record book for their performances.
Junior Jasmine Gardner was the lone Eastern player to scamper for a run over 20-yards, while Maricich and newcomer Madison Overbey each added a steal-at-tackle in the tough defeat.
Panthers were scheduled to get an immediate rematch with the Running Eagles this coming Saturday (Oct. 11), but the Life/EIU contest has been postponed to a later date which has yet to be determined.
... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID
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