USI Defeats Tennessee Tech in Fall Season Opener

USI Men's Rugby Club posing by the final score

September 10, 2013

Cookeville, Tenn. - The USI Men's Rugby Club opened its fall season with a hard fought victory against Tennessee Tech University that resulted in a final score of  31 - 22.

The team traveled down to Cookeville, Tenn. this past Saturday Sept.7 to participate in a friendly match against Tennessee Tech.

The first half of the physical match up resulted in some key plays being made by rookie players of the club.

In the opening minutes of the match first half, rookie backline player Tyler Duke scored the first try of the match by intercepting the opposing team's pass and running the ball in for USI's first score. The freshmen Duke then went on to score a second try off of a fast break. 

USI's third try came from another rookie backline player, junior Jacob Lewis, who scored a try off of a scrum in Tennessee Tech's red zone. 

Tries from both Duke and Lewis were their first for the USI Men's Rugby Club.  At half time the score of the match was 21 - 12.

Tennessee Tech launched into the second half with an aggressive attack in an attempt to take the lead. This led to USI scoring only one try in the later half of the match which was made by junior backline player and president of the club, Doug Rose.

Junior backline player Justin Mizen attempted to score off of two penalty kicks in the second half of the match. Mizen would convert one of two for the day.

USI scored all of its conversion kicks for the day, each kick was taken by senior backline player Tyler Pipes.

The win marks the first victory in the clubs fall season.

"This victory really gives us the confidence that we need going into the league season," Rose said. "A victory like this against a school that's higher ranking than the Division III schools that we normally play shows that all of our hard work we've been putting into the preseason practices is paying off." 

The club's next match is Saturday Sept. 14 at home against DePauw University. It will be the first league season match for USI.

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About USI Rugby

USI Men’s Rugby Club was founded in 1991 at the University of Southern Indiana. USI Rugby won the 2012 NSCRO Indiana State Championship for Division III. They participate in matches in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.    

For more information:   
Website: www.usirugby.com
Facebook: USI Rugby Club
Twitter: @usirugbyclub   
Instagram: @usirugby

For inquiries regarding public relations or media matters contact Public Relations Officer, Roberto Campos.  (317) 523-8246 
roberto.campos828@gmail.com  

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About Tennessee Tech University Rugby Football Club


Tennessee Tech University Rugby Football Club is a team based out of Cookeville, Tenn.


For more information:
Website: orgs.tntech.edu/rugby
Facebook: TTU Rugby
Twitter:  @tturugbyclub