WCU Women's Rugby ends season as runner-up
Ryan Frisco
Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Sports
Last Sunday, the West Chester University women's rugby team lost in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union championship game for the first time in the last four years.
The game took place in Shippensburg, as West Chester took on Delaware after beating Shipp the day before, in thrilling fashion. The Lady Rams played the Delaware Blue Hens earlier in the season, losing 6-5. In that game, West Chester's defense was perfect, not letting up a try.
In last Sunday's game, WCU once again did not let up a try. They only let up two penalty kicks again, holding Delaware to only six points. The only problem for the Golden Ram squad was that Delaware too did not let up a try, holding WCU to only one penalty kick in the game, and taking the crown by the score of 6-3.
The day before, West Chester won with a last second push over the line, and almost pulled through with the same outcome in the championship. Cheryl Johnson made a sideline drive as time expired to get WCU within striking distance, but the Delaware defense was able to hold off the desperate last second attempt.
The penalties played a big role in the loss, as it crushed the Lady Rams' momentum and gave the Blue Hens scoring chances, which they capitalized on.
With the loss, West Chester takes the runner up position in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, but leave behind a solid fall season.
The season opened up with a tough game against Penn State. The PSU Lady Ruggers are an annual match-up for the Lady Rams, always a tough battle. Penn State was last year's defending National champions, and are usually a lock for a Final Four appearance.
WCU came out fresh off of last season's upset in Nationals, and fought Penn State with a vengeance. The Lady Rams gave a solid showing in the game, but the outcome was not in their favor, as the Lady Ruggers took the match 42-7.
West Chester used that defeat as motivation for the rest of the season, as they came out the next week hungry for victory. The team hosted American University, and in front of their home crowd, the Lady Rams rugby squad laid down a beating, winning by a final score of 79-5.
The game took place in Shippensburg, as West Chester took on Delaware after beating Shipp the day before, in thrilling fashion. The Lady Rams played the Delaware Blue Hens earlier in the season, losing 6-5. In that game, West Chester's defense was perfect, not letting up a try.
In last Sunday's game, WCU once again did not let up a try. They only let up two penalty kicks again, holding Delaware to only six points. The only problem for the Golden Ram squad was that Delaware too did not let up a try, holding WCU to only one penalty kick in the game, and taking the crown by the score of 6-3.
The day before, West Chester won with a last second push over the line, and almost pulled through with the same outcome in the championship. Cheryl Johnson made a sideline drive as time expired to get WCU within striking distance, but the Delaware defense was able to hold off the desperate last second attempt.
The penalties played a big role in the loss, as it crushed the Lady Rams' momentum and gave the Blue Hens scoring chances, which they capitalized on.
With the loss, West Chester takes the runner up position in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, but leave behind a solid fall season.
The season opened up with a tough game against Penn State. The PSU Lady Ruggers are an annual match-up for the Lady Rams, always a tough battle. Penn State was last year's defending National champions, and are usually a lock for a Final Four appearance.
WCU came out fresh off of last season's upset in Nationals, and fought Penn State with a vengeance. The Lady Rams gave a solid showing in the game, but the outcome was not in their favor, as the Lady Ruggers took the match 42-7.
West Chester used that defeat as motivation for the rest of the season, as they came out the next week hungry for victory. The team hosted American University, and in front of their home crowd, the Lady Rams rugby squad laid down a beating, winning by a final score of 79-5.
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