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UNM Upsets BYU

Fri, 10/04/2013 - 12:54pm

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PMRC Rugby

Written by Alex Goff  - Tuesday, 01 October 2013 19:31 - RugbyMag.com

Keelia Harker charges up the line against UNM.

PROVO, UT: The University of New Mexico women’s team pulled off something of an upset this past weekend when they defeated BYU (Women’s Cougar Rugby) 29-17 in league play.

With BYU being among the top teams in the country for some years, now, even a strong team like the Lobos, which returned 13 starters from last year’s playoff-bound squad, is expected to struggle.

But BYU has had their issues, too. With the Mormon Church changing the age that women are expected to go on mission from 21 to 19, a large group of players aged 19-20 left this year, leaving Head Coach Tom Waqa with only five starters from last season, and very few B-siders to fill the gap.

“We are young,” said Waqa. “We have talent and we will get it together, but it will take time.”

UNM was led by some superb work out wide.

Wing Tonya Aragon scored the first try for New Mexico, and then 6-2 wing Whitney White added three from her side. Inside center Erica Speer added a a long-range run for a try from about midfield, while Emma McCaslin added two conversions.

BYU’s scorers were all their more experienced players, with Meigham Stevens scoring two and Jordan Gray one. Dana Greenwood added the single conversion.

“BYU is still a really good team, and I don’t think they will have much trouble with the other teams they have to play,” said UNM Head Coach Shannon Robinson. “They like to run their bigger players up the middle so we needed to defend that. I thought our No. 8 Kedra Davis had an outstanding game leading the way on defense.”

Penn State Edges BYU In Quarter Final

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 3:05pm

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USA Women's Collegiate DI Championship

Allendale, Mich., Written by Jackie Finlan - RugbyMag.com    Saturday, 13 April 2013 16:44

Meighan Lineout take for BYU.

Meighan Stevens Lineout take for BYU

Allendale, Mich., was cold, wet and snowy the past two days, and those DI and DII women’s colleges followed difficult paths to the national semifinals. The teams that adjusted and then executed their modified game plans proved the most successful, and that group includes the reigning DI champ.

A young Penn State earned their return trip to the Final Four, and players must be pleased that the opportunity to defend their title will be staged in sunny Palo Alto, Calif. The Nittany Lions started their campaign with a 58-5 win over West Chester yesterday, but it took some time to build that point differential. PSU put their patented strong scrum to work, and that dominance allowed the team to starve West Chester of possession. It was the breakdown that posed some issues for the defending champs.

“We were pretty happy yesterday, but we actually didn’t start very well,” Penn State coach Pete Steinberg said. “We’re pretty confident in our defense, but all weekend we really struggled giving away penalties and working off of the refs. Some of that might be the way the Midwest referees referee, but they had a different interpretation of the tackle area, and it took us a long time to adjust. The first 30 minutes, West Chester put us under some pressure – we were only up 17-0 – and we weren’t playing very well. But then we had 30 minutes where we really turned it on and were able to play some really good rugby.”

Cougars down Northern Iowa at Round 16

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 2:54pm

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USA Women's Collegiate DI Championship

Cougar Rugby News - Friday, 12 April 2013 19:19

Nicole on the run for BYU at LVI 2013

Nicole on the run for BYU at LVI 2013

Allendale, Mich: The women's college Round of 16 got a day's head start in Allendale, Mich., one of four regional sites hosting the national playoffs. DI's Penn State and Women's Cougar Rugby won their respective matches as the higher seeds, while DII's Winona and Denison advanced to the next round after wins today.

Monica Jackson, Nicole McCullough, Nalia Tafua had stellar performances for BYU.

Penn State and WCR were favored to win their games today, as the Nittany Lions look to defend their title and the Cougars are becoming regular fixtures in the final four. PSU downed West Chester rather easily, 58-5, while Northern Iowa gave WCR a much better game during their 29-7 loss.

BYU Defeats Air Force at LVI 2013

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 2:43pm

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PMRC Rugby

Boaz charges up the line against Air Force at LVI 2013

Rebekah Boaz charges up the line against Air Force at LVI 2013

Las Vegas, NV: Friday Feb 7, 2013

BYU defeats Air Force women 58 - 0 to win the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference - East League. The Cougars have earned a trip to the College Sweet 16 to be held in Allendale, Michigan.  They will be in the same pool as Northern Iowa, Penn State, and West Chester.

http://www.usarugby.org/college-championships/womens-division-i-college

 

BYU Women Down Colorado

Thu, 11/08/2012 - 6:20pm

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PMRC Rugby

Saturday, November 3, 2012 - Cougar Rugby  News

Cougar Women shows up in a ruck against CO - Paige, Nalia & Boaz & Company.

Provo, UT - BYU Women defeats a young Colorado University side Saturday winning by 67 - 12. BYU Women dominated the set pieces and breakdown from the get go, and started piling up points after 10 minutes of play. The Cougars made some unforced errors in the beginning by made up for that later in the game.

Rebekah Siebach, back, from China International 7s tournament last week, was on hand, to give her team a boost. Paige Torgerson (6) and Amber Ah Sue (7)  also had outstanding performances.

Colorado had two consolation tries towards the very end of the game, but the game was already one for BYU.

Final Score: BYU 67 Colorado 12

Jordan Gray delivers ball for BYU against Colorado.

BYU Women overcome CSU

Wed, 10/31/2012 - 12:42am

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PMRC Rugby

Saturday Oct 27, 2012 - Cougar Rugby News

Nicole McCullough charges on pick and go.

Fort Collins, CO - BYU Women overcame a strong CSU pack playing on home field, and won 19 - 7.

Final Score: BYU 19 CSU 7. Tries - Jordan Gray 3 Conversion - Jessie Beck 2  UNM 1 try

Cougar Women down UNM Lobos

Wed, 10/31/2012 - 12:11am

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PMRC Rugby

Saturday October 13, 2012 - Cougar Rugby News

Winger Keelia Maclennan on the run against UNM Fall 2012

Albuquerque, NM - BYU overcame a strong UNM squad and pulled away 51 -12.

Womens Cougar Rugby Twitter feed @byuwomensrugby

2 more tries, BYU 51 - UNM 12. No. 8 Nalia try capped it off. Game over.

13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

BYU recycles, backs ball. Try Siebach. 34 - 12. Good ball again try BYU Amber 39 - 12.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

UNM pressure. Turnover, try UNM no. 11. 27 - 10.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

BYU applying pressure UNM 22. Turnover. Try Keelia. 27 - 5 Cougars.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

Good recyling by UNM. Try UNM, 22-5. Half Time.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

8 man pick by Nalia on blind side, off load, Siebach, try. 22-0 Cougars.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

3 phases, wide ball, try Siebach 17-0 BYU.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

Try Siebach. Jessie converts 12 - 0 Cougars.
13 Oct Womens Cougar Rugby Womens Cougar Rugby @byuwomensrugby

Quick tap 5th minute, try Rebekah Boaz. 5-0 Cougars.

Kick Off 1pm 13 Oct 2012

BYU Women Dominates Utah State

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 10:31am

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Utah Rugby Union College Games

Cougar Rugby News - Saturday September 22, 2012

Meighan Stevens Charges upfront for BYU against USU - Photo by Ellexis Khan

PROVO, UT - BYU Women's cougars started the season on a good performance against Utah State University. The Cougars dominated upfront, and capitalized on a young Utah State side. BYU won 114 - 7. This is the first time the Cougar women have scored a century in any rugby game.

BYU led at the half 72 - 0. Siebach led on scoring with 5 tries. The backs were able to move the ball at will, and exploit gaps on USU defenses.

USU did sneak one consolation try in the end but game was already in the bag for BYU. Final score: BYU 114 USU 7.

Tom Waqa - USOC National Volunteer Coach of the Year

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 1:25pm

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Excellence in Rugby Performance Awards

USOC PRESS BOX - TEAMUSA.ORG - JUNE 19, 2012
Alan Ashley, USOC Chief Of Sports Performance presents Tom Waqa with USOC National Volunteer Coach of the Year Award

INDIANAPOLIS – The United States Olympic Committee today announced James Hrbek (judo; Schertz, Texas), Neal Henderson (cycling; Boulder, Colo.), Tom Waqa (rugby; Provo, Utah), Dave Denniston (Paralympic swimming; Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Rick Bower (snowboarding; Park City, Utah) as the recipients of its 2011 Coach of the Year honors. The winners were recognized here tonight at a reception during the 2012 National Coaching Conference at the NCAA Hall of Champions.

Hrbek was named the Developmental Coach of the Year, while Henderson took home the Doc Councilman Science Award. Meanwhile, Waqa was awarded Volunteer Coach of the Year and Denniston was recognized as the Paralympic Coach of the Year. Finally, Bower was named the Olympic Coach of the Year.

“These five coaches have impacted countless athletes throughout their exemplary careers,” said Alan Ashley, USOC chief of sport performance. “They are shining examples of the team behind the team and their efforts have encouraged athletes of all levels to strive for excellence.”

National Governing Bodies selected their 2011 Coaches of the Year as part of the USOC Coach of the Year Recognition Program. The three finalists in each category were chosen by a panel of coaching and sport education professionals.

2011 USOC COACHES OF THE YEAR

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