The female ruggers continued to see improvements in their young team but fell 41-5 to UW-Madison Sept. 19 at home.

Photograph by Stephanie Coren
The Ruggers fell to a 0-2 record after losing to UW-Madison.

The defeat against the Badgers was only the second time the young team could take the field together. Injuries kept some players on the sideline, although the numbers this year kept the Pioneers with a full side for the first time, junior hooker Bryn Callen said.

The Pioneers continued to work on ball lines and rucks throughout practice and saw an improvement in formations during the game Callen said.

“We came out strong in the second half and improved some minor things from the first half,” junior Emily Kern said. “We are still learning some important techniques about the game, but we have a very good chance at winning our next two games.”

The Badgers capitalized on the largely rookie-based team, who were trying players at different positions based off of the first game while the back line had a few players switching throughout the line.

UW-P hooker Callen was out during the game against the Badgers due to injury, allowing a rookie player, freshman Tanya Willis, to stepp into the position. Freshman Kit Sargent scored her first try for the Pioneers.

“We get better every game, that’s all we can ask for,” Callen said. “Hopefully we pull out a win; they played well as a team.”

Injuries from the previous week left the forwards rearranging their positions, allowing rookies time in new positions and a better understanding of the game, Kern said.

Supporting Pioneer-led rucks is still a struggle for the women, causing the other team to overpower the Pioneers when they don’t have the numbers to back them, Callen said. All players are calling out for the ball louder and clearer to help move the ball quickly down the line and up the pitch.

“We just have to do our best and keep our heads up.  Half of our team is still learning the game, rules and regulations,” junior Marleigh McQuown said. “We have to work together and stick our tackles, have hard scrums and win the rucks.  Win or lose, it doesn’t matter, it’s fun.”

Despite the back-to-back losses, the team went out and played hard the entire game, Kern said. Both the veteran and rookie players refused to give up, despite the numbers on the scoreboard.

“We may not have won, but we made a lot of progress from the previous game,” Kern said. “Our new ladies are learning a lot in a short amount of time which is what really matters. As of right now we have a team that is dedicated and that means a lot.”

The Pioneers will travel to Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 26.