The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed OSU's rugby team lost majority of their team from last year but still climbed their way to the Regional title game this season, losing 29-5 to Utah on Saturday at Peavy Field

The Utah Utes claimed a spot in the NCAA Rugby Sweet 16 over the weekend, emerging victorious out of a field of four teams, which included Oregon State, Chico State and Washington State.

The teams played each other in four matches, with two each on Friday and Saturday at Peavy Field on OSU's campus.

Utah, ranked fifth in the nation, humbled Washington State in the afternoon game on Friday, 50-8. Preceding their contest, the Beavers pulled out a phenomenal comeback triumph over the Wildcats of Chico State, 34-33.

The Beavers came out fired up and aggressive against the Wildcats, opening up a quick 10-0 lead in the first 16 minutes of play. Chico State stormed back though, taking a 12-10 lead off a couple of flashy runs that cut through the Beaver defense. The teams traded scores before the half with Chico State in the lead at 19-17 during the break.

During the brief intermission, coach Duffin McShane implored the Beavers to start tackling better.

His players took the advice to heart, and in the second half, OSU's defense responded with freshman Ryan Hansen and senior Chase McQuillen making several game-saving open field tackles. The Beavers battled hard and traded the lead back and forth with the Wildcats until Chico State scored its final points with under four minutes to play to take a 33-27 lead.

However, OSU maintained its poise and marched down the field, finally crossing over the line to score on the game's final play, with time already expired. The kick by McQuillen sealed the win, but not before a Wildcat player came within a hair's breadth of blocking it.

Chico State was unable to recover from the loss and fell to a resurgent Washington State team, 62-5, in the tournament's consolation game early Saturday morning.

The tournament's championship match later in the afternoon was a highly physical affair that saw two Beaver players injured and hospital-bound. Senior Nate Rogers left with a pinched nerve in his neck and Hansen with a possible broken ankle.

Continued...

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