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EASTERN ILLINOIS at LINDENWOOD
Game Details	7:30 p.m.  |  Tue., Sep. 16, 2014  |  in St. Charles, Mo.
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EIU Panther info	Website | 0-1 Overall
UW All-Stars info	Website | 1-1 Overall

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Following a two-week break, Eastern Illinois women's rugby continues early-season action on Tuesday (Sep. 16) as the Panthers are set to travel to St. Charles, Mo., to face the Lions of Lindenwood at 7:30 p.m.
 
POINTS OF INTEREST
• Eastern returns eight full-time returners -- Carissa Burge, Sara Fisher, Jasmine Gardner, Kaitlyn Hammock, Emalie Thornton, Hannah Vieth, Ellen Wilson and Kim Youhas -- from last season's squad that finished just 2-6 on the year, marking the first ever losing season in program history.

• After dropping the first six contests to begin the 2013 campaign, the Panthers ended the season on a high note with consecutive 61-0 and 2-0 (Rugby 7s) victories over Kentucky and Illinois State, respectively. 

• Eight additional newcomers join the crew this year for head coach Frank Graziano, who enters his 16th season as skipper of the premiere NCAA Division I women's rugby program. 

• Following the opening loss at UW All-Stars, the Panthers now own a 13-4 all-time mark in season-openers and have lost their last three season openers.

HEAD COACH FRANK GRAZIANO
Now in his 16th year, Graziano owns an impressive 120-28 overall mark, which includes a 4-3 record in NCAA contests.  EIU sports a 127-29 all-time record and enjoy a 102-16 mark since becoming the premiere NCAA DI quad back in 2002.

QUOTING COACH GRAZIANO
"We are definitely eager to play again having off the two weeks and having had some very good practices.  We have certainly improved and now we need a good game.  Lindenwood will be a going bench mark to see where we are at this point in the season, as they have played a few more games than us right now, so it will be a nice test.  We are expecting a nice, cool evening game, so as long as we can stay dry we'll be fine."

ALL-TIME EIU/LINDENWOOD SERIES
Panthers are a perfect 2-0 versus the Lions in the all-time series history, as EIU played Lindenwood twice during the 2012 campaign.  The first win came via a 43-10 home win, followed by a 2-1 (10-14, 24-0, 12-0) Rugby 7s format road victory.  This coming Tuesday's contest between the Panthers and Lion was a late-season addition to the Eastern slate.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
Newcomer Breanna Young paces the Panthers with the lone try and five-point score, while tying senior Carissa Burge with a run over 20-yards in the opening loss at UW All-Stars.

Burge also added an assist in the opener and has two solo stops and one assisted tackle.  While freshman Jessica Maricich already owns impressive defensive numbers with 11 solo stops and six assisted tackles already this season.

Junior Hannah Vieth missed her only conversion attempt back on August 30.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Off to an even 1-1 mark this season, Lindenwood is coming off a tough 20-5 road loss at Davenport.  However, the Lions did earn a season-opening rout of upcoming EIU foe Northern Illinois, as they drilled the Huskies, 113-7 up in DeKalb.
 
GAME NIGHT WEATHER PROJECTION
According to weather.com, Tuesday night is expected to be clear and cool, with temps to reach just 51-degrees, with very little wind currently in the forecast.

UP NEXT FOR EASTERN
Following Tuesday's game, the Panthers will have a quick turnaround as Eastern will play another game on Saturday (Sep. 20) afternoon, as EIU will visit instate rival Southern Illinois at 1 p.m.

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