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SEASON AT-A-GLANCE
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DATE
====== 9-8 |
TEAM PLAYED
==================== Winona State University |
RESULT
======== Lost |
SCORE
======= 0-5 |
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Click for Pictures!
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| Our first game came on September 8th in Winona vs. Winona State University, currently ranked #2 in Minnesota Division I. Classes here at Gustavus had started only three days prior to our match, so needless to say, we jumped right in to our season. We managed to scrape together two practices in that time, mostly so everyone could remember how to play the game after a 3 month layoff (for most of the team). At gametime, it was apparent that we'd remembered how to play, but we were technically rusty, and most definitely out of shape. Winona played a tough, clean game and triumphed 5-0. | |||||||||||||
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| On September 22nd, the Gustavus Lions packed up and headed back out to Winona, this time for our match vs. St. Mary's. We'd been working hard in practice in preparation for this game, and it paid off. We rolled to a 71-0 victory, which allowed our rookies some valuable playing time. The real excitement came after the game, when one of the props was not served his bacon double cheeseburger at the restaurant the team stopped at. I'm sure anyone who knows rugby can imagine how a prop can be without his food! | |||||||||||||
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| September 29th brought the first "League Match" ever for the Lions. The Minnesota Rugby Union has implemented a new playoff system that carries over from the Fall into the Spring, and our first step into this system was a match against Southwest State University. After another long drive, we arrived in Marshall, MN and slopped our way to a 10-10 tie. It was clear that our scrum needed some fine-tuning on rucking, and our backs needed to work on their timing. Having missed both of our "points after" kicks, we had yet another thing to work on in practice the following week. | |||||||||||||
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| One week after the tie with Southwest State, the Lions faced Macalester in the second and final League Match of the season. This game was the deciding contest to see who came out on top of the division. Southwest State had tied the Lions, and beaten Macalester 74-0. In order to advance in the Spring, the Lions needed to "beat the spread" that Southwest State had established, and they were up to the challenge. After the dust had cleared, Gustavus had won 94-0 and taken their division. | |||||||||||||
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| Claiming lack of numbers, St. Olaf forfeits the match. We'll have to ask Carleton how they played that day... | |||||||||||||
| After two weeks of good practice, the Lions were ready to face their arch-rivals from down the road, Mankato State University. As a Division I team and coming from a school with an enrollment of around ten thousand, Mankato is always a tough game. This year they were 3rd in the Division I rankings (behind St. Cloud State and Winona, respectively), so the Lions were prepared for a tough match. Thanks to spot-on passing and perfect timing from the backs, and the scrummies who rucked and mauled like a pack of wolves, Gustavus came out with a 21-0 victory. | |||||||||||||
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| Due to lack of numbers, UW-River Falls forfeits the match. | |||||||||||||