October 18 - Michigan State University

Our game against MSU this weekend was our second pool play for the Fall 08 season. This was the first real home game of the year and it was a success! We won this match 38 to 10. Having won both our pool play games, we will be hosting the Elite 8 Tournament here at U of I.

MSU drove for a long time and arrived early that morning with only 15 girls in tow. Word has it that because they had just become a serious team (and less of a club) they lost a lot of girls and the coach was rebuilding the team. Even though they were
short on girls, they were kind enough to grace us with a B-side 25 minute half with the girls they could offer. We wound up donating four of our own players to them in order to make the B-side match happen.

The House kindly hosted the social. Fun was had by all! Parents were even seen taking active part in the fun. The MSU team was fun, but unfortunately they had to leave early in order to drive back home.

Statistics
Date: 10-18-2008
Final Score: 38 (us) to 10
Score by Halftime: 12 (us) to 5
Minutes per Half: 40

Trys:
Janelle - 1
Wheels - 1
Crack - 2
Lipa - 2

Conversion Kicks:
Fish - Attempted: 6 Successful: 4

MSU: 2 trys, 0 conversions.

Currently undefeated. Record 8-0. Ranked 14th still.

Thank you to d-d-d-d-d-d-Dingo for filming for me!
To all those who came to support us!

This week is Rookie Week! Stay posted for updates, I'm going to try to blog for every day so all our loyal fans have something to read.

Next Saturday, October 25 was supposed to be a match against EIU at Charleston, IL. We have withdrawn from this match in preparation for the Elite 8 tournament the following weekend.

NEXT NEXT SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1: ELITE 8 TOURNAMENT @ HOME! COME OUT AND CHEER FOR YOUR ILLINOIS WOMEN'S RUGBY TEAM AS THEY TAKE ON GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY!

Three cheers for MSU!
hip hip HOORAY! hip hip HOORAY! hip hip HOORAY!
Three cheers for the sir!
hip hip HOORAY! hip hip HOORAY! hip hip HOORAY!
Three cheers for U OF I!!
HIP HIP HOORAY!! HIP HIP HOORAY!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!

October 10 - Purdue

After 2 weekends of no games, we finally had one again! Last week was a free weekend with no scheduled games, and the week before the Marquette didn't attend.

We traveled to Lafayette, IN, for a game against Purdue. We walked in with a mindset that we were going to win, and we walked out with that goal fulfilled. We won the match 48-26, dominating the majority of the game. We even out-hyped them in their own parking lot, according to Schmarra (the Purdue out-center).

I believe this was our first full 80-minute game of the season. The weather was nice, but it got a little hot towards the end of the game. We were supposed to have a B-side half match as well, but we were unable to because the game started late and the Purdue boys had to take the field right after our game. Apologies to all the girls that did not get to play because of this! Also, we were supposed to have a social, but the day the game landed on was part of their October break, and no one was at their house. But they kindly brought us pizza which everyone devoured.

Statistics
Date: 10-10-2008
Final Score: 48 (us) to 26
Score by Halftime: 28 (us) to 7
Minutes per Half: 40

Trys:
Asia - 2
Elvy - 2
Shoddy - 2
Lipa - 1
Wheels - 1

Conversion Kicks:
Fish Attempted: 8 Successful: 4

Purdue: 4 trys, 3 conversions.

Currently undefeated, ranked 14th.

Thank you to Tonka and Panda for filming and taking statistics for me!
To all those who came who unfortunately did not get to play, thank you for coming! Your support (and you water-bringing skills!) really helped us.

Next Week is Rookie Week!

NEXT SATURDAY OCTOBER 18: MICHIGAN STATE @ HOME! COME OUT AND CHEER FOR YOUR ILLINOIS WOMEN'S RUGBY TEAM!