Eastern’s 0-2 start to the season now seems to be in the past after its 97-7 win over Western Kentucky on Saturday.

The opening two games of the season had opponents outscoring the Panthers 91-36, but the Panthers have responded, outscoring opponents 140-17 in their last two games.

After the switch back to a modified fifteens format, the women’s rugby team defeated Lindenwood 43-10. Although they outscored the Lions by 33, the margin was still short of the prior season’s mark. With all of the key players returning from last year, Eastern head coach Frank Graziano still did not believe the Panthers were at full potential.

Unlike the first three contests where the Panthers averaged 26 points per match, their match against Western Kentucky aligned with previous years’ numbers.

The 97-7 defeat of the Big Red was reminiscent of the 2008-2011 seasons when Eastern went 40-1 and outscored opponents by a combined tally of 2,364-210.

The Panthers averaged 57.7 points per match over the four-year stretch.

The breakout game against Western Kentucky also featured the return of senior center Lauren Doyle. She formerly elected to red-shirt her final season, but has since changed her mind.

“Lauren decided that she was not coming back for graduate school as she had originally planned,” Graziano said. “We removed the red-shirt status because she would not be able to utilize her fifth year of eligibility.”

In her return, she scored eight trys, which tied an Eastern record. Her 40 points also tied a mark in the record books.

“It was important to get the extra playing time for her,” Graziano said. We don’t get her back until the end of the season.”

Doyle will travel with the national women’s rugby team after being named to the squad earlier in the month.

Eastern will look to continue its production against Kansas State, although it will not have Doyle in the lineup.

The game is scheduled to kickoff at 12 p.m. Saturday in Manhattan, Kan.

Around the NCAA

The West Chester Rams were also in action over the weekend, defeating in-state rival Pittsburgh 27-0 in West Chester, Pa.

The win had the Rams improving to 2-0-1 on the season. They will return to action on Oct. 20 when they travel to Hamden, Conn., to take on Quinnipiac.

The Norwich Cadets pushed its winning streak to nine after its 48-3 win over Rhode Island on Saturday.

The Cadets have started the season 9-0, and have outscored opponents 685-28, including a streak where they shutout three straight opponents and totaled 416 points. Norwich will round out its season against Boston and Boston College.

Nicholas Ruffolo can be reached at 581-2812 or nfruffolo@eiu.edu.