Women's rugby team remains undefeated

The IU women’s rugby team is used to scoring and beating defenders to the ball.
The team is 7-0 after winning 29-7 last Saturday against Ohio State.

Head coach Vaughn Mitchell said the team’s defensive pressure and kicking game, including players Caroline Walters, Allison Hale and Masie Duncan, were keys to the victory.

“Caroline’s kicking for field position put pressure on Ohio State, Allion’s tackling and Masie’s defensive pressure helped us win,” Mitchell said.

The players said they play as though they are a family.

“It’s one of the things I believe has helped our success,” Hale said. “(Mitchell) is really good at analyzing what we didn’t do well in a game, then he adjusts practice to improve in those areas.”

Mitchell is always stressing defense and not allowing the other team to score, Hale said.

The team said it has listened as it prepares to go into a game against Penn State Oct. 27 at home at Evan Williams Field.

Losing to Penn State in the final four of the Big Ten tournament ended the Hoosiers' season early last year.

IU women’s rugby has beat every opponent they have faced. The Penn State matchup this Sunday will be their biggest challenge.

Mitchell said the team will focus on defensive pressure and kicking position against Penn State.

”We struggled with their defensive pressure,” Mitchell said about the last Penn State matchup. “Our defensive organization was not very good.”  
 
Along with worrying about their weekly matches, the team struggles with finding funding for the club, Hale said.

“We look for sponsors and park (cars) for basketball games, which brings in a lot of revenue,” Hale said.

Despite the questions of funding, the Hoosiers say they will be ready to take on Penn State by Sunday.

“Penn State is number one in the nation,” Hale Nguyen said. “We just want to beat them.”

Follow reporter Angela Hawkins on Twitter at @angelalhawkins.