It was a picture perfect day for the rugby team this Saturday against Missouri. Sure, the weather was a little cold, but the Panthers moved to 7-0 this season and won their 23rd consecutive game with an 87-6 blowout in front of a large Homecoming crowd.

“It was excellent,” Eastern head coach Frank Graziano said. “We were a little worried about a let down after the emotional high that was the game against Northern Iowa.”

Graziano said the team tried to keep the practices relaxed in the week leading up to the match and work on different things he did not feel they did well during the last week.

“I looked back at the game against Northern Iowa and we missed a few of our audibles,” Graziano said. “I think this week we did a really good job with that.”

Eastern came into the game off one of its toughest opponents of the season. The Panthers were able to knock off Northern Iowa after a try by senior winger Crystal Jones in the final seconds.

Graziano said it was a good time to play an easier opponent this week, because the team needed to come down from such an emotional game in its last game.

“I think our backline and midfield defense was excellent,” Graziano said. “(Freshman center) Lauren Doyle and (senior center) Ashley Jenkins are becoming an excellent combination in the middle.”

According to Graziano, Jenkins had a couple trys and three assists in the first half, Jones had five runs over 20 yards and several forwards scored a try. Junior fly half Coartney McKinney scored her first try of the season in the match.

“I think our forwards were really happy they got to get involved in the scoring,” Graziano said.

The rugby team does not often get a chance to play a home game on Homecoming, but Graziano said the experience was great for both teams.

Graziano said many Eastern players attended the Eastern football game with their families after the rugby match.

The Panthers will return to action at 11 a.m. Saturday when they host Illinois at Lakeside Rugby Field.

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or dscusack@eiu.edu.

Freshman prop-lock Kelsi Wright throws the ball to a teammate as a Missouri player tackles her during the game Saturday at Lakeside Field.(Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

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