News

NEWS

3/15/08

Anteaters Win Big Over Point Loma

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club closed out its regular season with a convincing 68-12 victory over Point Loma University at the Little Q in San Diego on Saturday morning. Moved up to a 10am kick-off, the Anteaters set their alarm clocks for early and traveled south for their final league contest eager to finish league play with a 6-0 record. The Little Q, the venue for previous Men's National Championship matches, played firm and fast. The end result for the Anteaters was 12 tries, 10 of them accounted for by the Irvine back three players. Left wing, Mike Wendel, had a huge day in the try zone touching down five times with the starting right wing, Dave Cheng, adding three more of his own. "We had good success spreading the ball wide and taking advantage of turnover ball today," commented Anteater Team Captain, Ryan Edwardsen. "All in all it was a solid team effort." The bonus point victory leaves the Anteaters alone at the top of the South Division standings with 28 league points and sets up a semi-final match with the second place finisher in the North Division, Pepperdine University, for Saturday, April 5th. Occidental College has secured the top spot in the North Division and will play the #2 team from the South Division. The semi-final winners will play in the final scheduled for Sunday,April 6th.

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club welcomes new players year round and trains at the ARC Fields at U.C. Irvine from 6:45-9:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For additional information, please contact Dan Cossettini at 949-294-8801.

3/4/08

Anteaters Shut Out U.C. Riverside

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club moved one step closer to securing the #1 seed in the Southern California DII play-offs with a 50-0 whitewashing of U.C. Riverside at the ARC Fields Friday evening. Lead by several graduating seniors playing their final match at the ARC Fields, the Anteaters struck early. Fullback, Adam Heal, accounted for the first 12 points of the match finishing off two well-worked tries and a conversion in the first nine minutes of the match. The Anteaters scored eight tries in all with scrumhalf, Danny Carpio, and center, Mark Allen, also grounding two tries a piece. The outstanding player of the match was lock, James Fraser, who was active all over the field with the ball in hand and in defense. The Anteaters also used all of their reserves as the seniors were clapped off the ARC pitch one last time. Senior flyhalf and captain, Ryan Edwardsen, had this to say, "It was a good night for our club getting the win here at home. Our club has shown a lot of improvement in my 4 years here and the hard work and dedication of our coaches and players is showing." The Anteaters have a bye next weekend and will close our their regular season at Point Loma University on Saturday, March 15th. With a win at Point Loma, U.C. Irvine will lock up the #1 seed in the Southern California DII semi-finals beginning Saturday, April 5th. The club would also like to thank all those who brought canned food items out to their home matches in February in support of the Orange County Rescue Mission.

2/28/08

Anteaters RetainHiggins Cup, Rout Cal State Fullerton 45-7

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club retained the Higgins Cup from local rival, Cal State Fullerton with a decisive 45-7 victory in Fountain Valley Saturday. Played as the curtain raiser to the Unicorns/L.A. Rugby Club men's league match, the Anteaters made five changes to their starting XV from a week ago and dominated play from the outset. Several substitutions again were made at halftime as Irvine continued to control the majority of possession and territory in the contest. Fullback, Adam Heal, had a superb afternoon running in the first of his two tries to start the match as well as slotting over four of his five conversion attempts. Forwards, Merrick Brodsky and Aaron Gartner both turned in solid afternoons from the engine room. With the victory, the Anteaters move to 4-0 in league play with two remaining matches. "We're happy to be where we are right now and glad to keep the Higgins Cup again for another year," commented Irvine Team Captain, Ryan Edwardsen. "We'll continue to work hard to improve." The Anteaters will be playing their final home match of the season this Friday evening when they host league opponent U.C. Riverside at the ARC Fields. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm. The Anteaters encourage all players, family, classmates & supporters to bring a canned food item to help close out their food drive in support of the Orange County Rescue Mission. Food receptacle bins will be conveniently located at the blue Anteater canopy along with U.C. Irvine Rugby apparel for sale. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

2/15/08

Anteaters Outlast Loyola 20-13

In their most competitive match of the season, U.C. Irvine defeated Loyola Marymount University by a score of 20-13. The match, which was closely contested throughout its duration, saw the Anteaters take an early 6-0 lead on two converted Adam Heal penalty kicks. Loyola fought back and were soon after awarded a penalty that they converted to bring the score to 6-3. Loyola was not finished as they found their way back into Irvine's half and took the lead on a converted try to lead at halftime 10-6. Early in the second half, Anteater flyhalf and captain, Ryan Edwardsen, knifed through a gap in Loyola's backline and scooted 20 meters under the posts for a converted try to reclaim the lead 13-10. A crosskick later in the match by Edwardsen was taken in full stride by the oncoming right winger, Taylor Alston, who finished the play weaving his way over the try line to increase the lead to 20-10. Loyola began to answer back as they spent a large portion of the remaining minutes with opportunities in Irvine's half, but were only able to come away with another 3 points to close out the match with a 20-13 Anteater victory. The win for U.C. Irvine puts them at 3-0 in league play and alone at the top of the SCRFU DII South Division standings. "Our boys showed great resolve tonight coming from behind in the second half and kept Loyola out of our try zone late in the match," said U.C. Irvine Head Coach, Dan Cossettini. "Both sides really competed tonight and we'll expect more of the same from Loyola come April." The Anteaters next opponent is Orange County rival, Cal State Fullerton, next Saturday. U.C. Irvine and Cal State Fullerton compete annually for the Higgins Cup which has been in Irvine's possession for the last 2 years.

U.C Irvine plays it's home matches at the ARC Fields on the U.C. Irvine campus. The nearest cross streets are Campus Drive & California Ave. For additional information, please contact Dan Cossettini at 949-294-8801. We look forward to seeing you out this season and thank you for your continued support of the club!

2/13/08

Anteaters Begin Food Drive for O.C. RescueMission

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club is beginning their canned food drive for their next three home matches in support of the Orange County Rescue Mission. The O.C. Rescue Mission provides a great service to the community allocating food, shelter, and other vital human services to Orange County's homeless. All players, family, classmates & supporters are encouraged to bring a canned food item that can be conveniently dropped off at one of the food receptacle bins at the field. Any food items contributed will go towards a worthy cause. The club is encouraging everyone to come out, support the cause, and watch some exciting rugby at the ARC Fields! Friday's league match with Loyola Rugby kicks off at 7:00pm under the lights.

2/8/08

Anteaters Outrun Nebraska 40-22

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club traveled south to face off with the University of Nebraska in the San Diego Invitational at Robb Field Friday afternoon. Having had the previous weekend off due to a league scheduled bye, the Anteaters picked up where they left off from the previous week. Using several multi-phased attacks, Irvine scored three first half tries along with a converted penalty kick to take an 18-0 lead into half time. The Anteaters began the second half strong as well adding an additional try to lead 23-0 after 50 minutes of play. The match went back and forth from that point on as the Cornhuskers' powerful runners began to exploit the Anteaters defense and begin a comeback with back to back tries. But as the match continued on, the Anteaters were able to answer back and put the match out of reach for Nebraska. Hooker, Jonathan Reza and outside center, Zach Waters both put in solid efforts. "The day worked out well for us as we were able to see some very talented rugby programs play and we were also able to compete against tougher competition ourselves," said Club President, Mike Wendel. The Anteaters will host league foe, Loyola Marymount University, next Friday at the ARC Fields on the U.C. Irvine campus. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm. The rugby club is having a canned food drive in support of the Orange County Rescue Mission for the next three home matches and are asking that all supporters bring a canned food item to any of the remaining home league matches. There will be food deposit receptacles available at the ARC Fields for easy drop off to help in this worthy cause. We thank you for your continued support!

2/5/08

U.C. Irvine Rugby Selected For National Guard Sponsorship

The U.C. Irvine Rugby Club has been selected as one of the collegiate recipients for USA Rugby's National Guard sponsorship program. Selected teams will be receiving a full kit of Kooga jerseys, shorts, and socks. Also included in the National Guard College Kit will be a full array of field and practice equipment courtesy of World Rugby Shop, including field flags, goal post pads, practice cones and pinnies, practice and match balls from Gilbert and much more. "Through providing student-athletes in college with rugby kits and equipment, the National Guard, together with USA Rugby, hopes that the high caliber of play will continue to serve as inspiration to young rugby players and fans throughout the country," said MAJ Miguel Baptista of the National Guard. "There has never been a program this broad or far reaching in the history of collegiate rugby in the U.S. The National Guard is providing a tremendous service to the sport of rugby and deserves a great deal of gratitude," said USA Rugby's CEO and President of Rugby Operations, Nigel Melville. U.C. Irvine Rugby Club President, Mike Wendel announced, "This is a great honor for our rugby program and we're proud to be participating in this sponsorship. The equipment and backing that both USA Rugby and the National Guard are providing our club will carry us a long way in bettering our program here at U.C. Irvine. "