The Eastern rugby team looks to win two straight games for only the second time in the last two years, as the Panthers play Notre Dame at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in South Bend, Ind.

Last season, the Panthers defeated Kentucky and Illinois State to end the year.

Last time out the Panthers defeated Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., 65-5.

Eastern coach Frank Graziano said he is looking to build off that win against the Boilermakers.

“The key is being able to play that well against the good teams,” he said. “Notre Dame is a perfect matchup for us. They look to be like a Lindenwood type at least that is what I am expecting initially. This would be a good gauge on how much our progress has moved forward over the course of the season.”

Eastern lost to Lindenwood the second game of the season 24-13.

In the game against Purdue, red-shirt freshman Brianna Young scored seven tries along with Hannah Vieth, who added three in that game as well.

Graziano said the plan is to get Young the ball more to generate some more offense for the Panthers.

“We are trying to get her the ball in those key situations,” he said. “When she really figures this out she is going to be very difficult for any team to handle.”

Graziano said that Vieth played her best game of the season from an offensive standpoint.

“She has a very complicated position to play, so anytime she can take a little step forward that makes us better,” Graziano said. “She is doing a better job of getting the ball out of her hands quicker. She is also doing a better job of deciding whether it is kick ball or run ball and that is up to her.”

Compared to where Eastern was three months ago, Graziano said his team’s defensive positioning has been a lot better.

In the first two games the Panthers played this season, they gave up a total of 84 points and in the last game they five, so Graziano is pleased with his defense.

“That is half the battle we have been fighting all season,” he said. “We have been working on a specific defensive game plan pattern that they are getting better at it. Let’s see if it shows up on Saturday. I think we are going need it. We are certainly going to get attacked a lot more than we did from Purdue.”

Bob Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or rjreynolds@eiu.edu.