Club rugby defeats BYU in final minutes
A penalty kick from veteran Becca Ogden in the final minutes was the deciding factor for the Utah State University women’s rugby team as they defeated BYU’s B squad Saturday in Provo.
With the Aggies down by two, it looked as though BYU would get the best of the USU squad. But a high tackle penalty called on BYU during the Aggies’ drive allowed Ogden a kick that put the Aggies on top, ending the match 16-15.
“It was lucky,” Ogden said. “I missed one earlier and had to make it up. I felt relieved because I hate to lose.”
Along with the game-winning penalty kick, Ogden also scored in the second half making it possible for the Aggies to come out with a victory. But it wasn’t just Ogden who won the game.
In the first half Jamie Purcell, who was with Ogden and six other players on Utah’s national rugby team, scored her first try in her career and had to Zulu.
To Zulu means to strip down and run around the field. Purcell did this in front of all the BYU fans.
But the Aggies are proud of the whole team, captain Lauren Dreitzler said, and will take a win against BYU any time they can.
“No one really stood out,” Dreitzler said. “We all played well as a team.”
USU felt they improved on many areas of their game, Dreitzler said, especially defense and their scrums.
“We had a lot of good scrums,” Dreitzler said. “We pushed them back, which made it possible to get it to our wing.”
Not only did Saturday’s game give the Aggies a win and a chance to improve, Dreitzler said, but it also helped them prepare for this weekend’s tournament, which will be held at USU on the HPER field throughout Saturday.
The fall tournament, named the Catfight, will include USU, BYU, Weber State University, the University of Utah, Idaho State University and Boise State University.
“We’re excited about it. It’s something fun to do,” Dreitzler said. “We’re excited to get the Catfight underway.”
The tournament will be based on a point system which will allow each team to play two games, putting the two teams with the best records in a championship game.