• 2008
  • February 24, 2008
  • February 16, 2008
  • February 11, 2008*
  • January 19, 2008
• 2007
  • March 04, 2007
  • March 04, 2007*
  • February 24, 2007
  • February 24, 2007*
  • January 28, 2007*
  • January 27, 2007
• 2006
  • February 04, 2006
  • January 15, 2006
  • January 15, 2006*
• 2005
  • April 09, 2005
  • February 19, 2005
  • February 14, 2005
  • January 30, 2005
  • January 22, 2005
  • January 15, 2005

UCLA vs. UCSD — March 4, 2007

Kickoff began this bright Sunday morning at UCLA. In the first minute UCLA women were slow to the mark, watching UCSD pick up their own ball after kicking it just a few meters. In the next nine minutes UCLA was defending their own territory in the red zone. Back in their try zone, Bruins bravely kicked the ball out. The back line had good recycling of the ball to get up into open field. Soon, Griffin found a few holes and through the UCSD backline for a 60-meter try. Blythe to convert. UCLA 7 — UCSD 0.

Missed tackles, and sloppy play was the game for both sides in the next ten minutes. Bruins lacked the support early but managed to continously fight in rucks and mauls. Back and forth play gave the rugby fans a great game. Back in the hands of UCLA backs, Blythe kicked and chased starting an onrush of UCLA attacks. Bruins picked up their tackling, keeping UCSD from scoring. After Pineda picked from Griffin's posting, we lost the ball to lack of support. UCSD came back to score with a conversion. UCLA 7 — UCSD 7.

Bringing the ball back to threaten UCSD again, UCLA's wing Laura found a 40-meter gap before she got tackled near the try line. Lee picked the ball up and scored. Blythe converted. UCLA 14 — UCSD 7. Off the next kickoff, Griffin caught and ran, passing off to Pineda, to Zalameda, to Blythe for the try and conversion. UCLA 21 — UCSD 7. Immediately attacking again, the Bruin backline passed well out to Laura for the try. Blythe converted. UCLA 28 — UCSD 7. UCSD fought back, finding a hole on the weak side of a scrum, running in for the try untouched. UCLA 28 — UCSD 12.

Second Half

Kwandam for the try. Blythe converted. Marni Vath commented, "We kicked. We pushed. We scored." UCLA 35 — UCSD 12. UCSD was not deterred, coming back quickly themselves, threatening for ten minutes before they scored. UCLA 35 — UCSD 17. A number of injuries caused the Bruin lineup to change, but they were still 15 as 1. Bruins fought back with excellent support. Griffin found another gap in the UCSD backline, giving us great field position. After much rucking, Griffin scored. Blythe converted. UCLA 42 — UCSD 17. After a UCSD penalty, Zalameda took a quick tap with Griffin in support and scored. Blythe converted. UCLA 49 — UCSD 17. Two minutes later Griffin scored again after the ball was recycled through seven different pairs of hands. Blythe converteed. UCLA 56 — UCSD 17. UCLA kept the intensity up for the rest of the match, almost. UCSD's #8 found a gap through a number of missed tackles to end the match. UCLA 56 — UCSD 24.

In the third year as a bonefide team, UCLA has surged through the ranks and is looking forward to their next challenging match.

THANK YOU Rugby Fans for making to our first home match of the season! You rock!

Starting Lineup

1. Gabriel Mirsaidi
2. Eunice Bhavilai
3. Saerim Luciano
4. Carrissa Hsieh
5. Michelle Kwandam (C)
6. Mary Lee
7. Middy "Crusha" Pineda (C)
8. Sonia Globerson-Lamb
9. Vicky Zalameda
10. Chau Bui
11. Jennifer Chase
12. Kelly Griffin
13. Tia Blythe
14. Laura Hurley
15. Robin Barnett

Substitutions

1. Lotta Chan for Chase at 30
2. Rachel Castillo for Eunice at 40
3. Anita Bradbury for Pineda
4. Claire Schmidt for Barnett
5. Brittany Wolfe for Bradbury

Senior award went to Tia Blythe. Tia, a freshman, has been an integral part of the Bruin backline success this year, and again so today. Tia—always in support of her vet—gained ground every time she had the ball, and amazingly made every conversion for the team today. Senior would be proud. Congratulations Blythe.