Senior scrum-half Stephanie Rasmusen said the reason why these games were canceled is because they did not have the certain number of players to play against Eastern.

There is a lack of commitment to play because club teams are voluntary, meaning there is no obligation to play if they don’t feel like it, Rasmusen said.

“It wasn’t that they (Texas) didn’t want to,” Rasmusen said. “It’s because a lot of clubs’ seasons are actually in the spring, that is when the club national championship is held.”

The Panthers have not played a game in two weeks, which Rasmusen said will actually help the team out.

“I think it gave us time for our nagging injuries to heal and once we get back in the swing of things we will be fine. We are all ready to go out and play.”

Rasmusen said the canceled games are nothing to be upset about because it’s in the past.

“I just look at it as there is no point to dwell on it because its over with and we have other games to focus on. This just gives us an opportunity to come out fresh this weekend for Homecoming and (the) Alumni game.”

Playing two games in three days is something Eastern has never done before, but Rasmusen said they are ready for the challenge.

Senior captain flanker Lindsay Leskanich said the cancellations were a little rough and emotionally draining.

“(Graziano) had a nice talk with Eileen and I about keeping everybody up and about what we need to do,” Leskanich said.

There’s a little agitation about the cancellations, but the team has their mind in the right spot, said Leskanich.

Panthers head coach Frank Graziano scheduled a game with Indiana University on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at EIU Rugby Field. The original schedule had the Panthers playing the Under-23 All Star team from the Midwest region.

The team practiced all weekend, and believes it will help out a lot, said Graziano.

“We’re certainly a little down after all the cancellations. Parents can’t seem to figure out what weekend they need to come,” Graziano said.

Fans have been calling the office and asking if Eastern is playing said Graziano.

Junior inside-center Eileen O’ Rourke said this is the first time that two games in a season have been canceled. Sometimes a team lacks players and it makes for a more challenging season, O’ Rourke said.

“Our reward for hard work (in practice) is a game,” O’ Rourke said. “It’s frustrating to have this happen because we are going to play two games in three days.”