Air Force, Penn State Women Bowl Game Highlight Fall Classic
Air Force, Penn State Women Bowl Game Highlight Fall Classic
The Bowl Games at the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) Fall Classic has expended to include women's teams.
As has been the case in the Fall Classic, the Bowl Games often serve to test teams across conference or even divisional lines.
This year's women's bowl game—the Upstate Challenge Cup—will see Air Force Academy against Penn State.
While Penn State is in the D1A Women division and working their way toward moving up the bracket with a new coach. Air Force is D1, and remains one of the stronger teams in D1.
"We're really excited to take the field against a team we wouldn't normally get to see, so it should be a fun experience," said Lauren Shissler, who is in her first season as Penn State's Head Coach. Shissler has been working hard to get up to speed as a coach and as a program with the coaching transition. "The last few weeks we have really been focusing on getting our walk-ons up to speed and ready to take the field. A few of them have managed to break into the starting roster—one of our props, a lock, and our fullback are all brand new to rugby this year and we are excited to see what they can do."
It is all about the experience.
"It's less what we're trying to showcase and more the experience we are trying to gain given two-thirds of the traveling squad are freshmen and sophomores," said Air Force Head Coach Amy Rusert. "We are not permitted to recruit and we've only two players on the squad with prior HS playing experience, so every game we get to play above our pay grade is invaluable."
Penn State will still be relying on their returning players. Flanker Danica Luzak is a consistent performer who is always getting her team go-forward. No. 8 Merrin McSorley is a constant attacking threat, and flyhalf Jaida Runkin's kicking game and field vision is is very good.
She works nicely with center Darby Miller, who runs good attacking lines.
As for Air Force, this is a very young team but keep an eye on Analise and Noel Migilaccio—two sisters out of Montana who work very well off each other.
"The bowl games have been a great installation for the men's game and we're thrilled to participate in the first women's bowl game at the annual Fall Classic," added Rusert. Air Force faced Penn State in the 2002 USA Rugby national championship match (won by Air Force), and this may well be the first time they've faced off since then. Whether that is indeed the case (we'd have to check), this is a rare meeting.
"In keeping with the ever-evolving college women's game over the past couple of decades since the two programs last met, it seems really fitting that two old storied programs and long-ago postseason opponents would meet in a new bowl game format," said Rusert. "Retaining a high-quality fixture in December will cap off a robust fall season before pivoting to a playoffs campaign in the spring."
Penn State vs Air Force kicks off at Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4PM at the Louis P. Howell Athletic Complex on the campus of the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg. SC. Free live coverage on The Rugby Network here>>
