Rugby teams end spring

It was a bright day outside Saturday, but a bright point for only one of Truman's rugby teams.

The day started off with a doubleheader with the Bullets taking on teams from both sides of the state. First up for the Bullets were the St. Louis Sirens, a brandnew high school team.

"It was a pretty sloppy game, both with them being a new team and our play," said head coach senior Natalie Gerhart.

The game ended up being a back-and-forth battle between the Sirens and the Bullets. Each team scored twice in the game. Like their game against Palmer College of Chiropractic (Mo.) in March, the difference in the game was that the Bullets made both of their conversions, winning 14-12.

The next matchup for the Bullets was against the Kansas City Dragons, a perennial foe for the Bullets. For the past four years, the Truman women have been unable to defeat the Dragons.

But the Bullets were able to turn the tide in their favor in large part by the efforts of junior Emma Greenwood, who scored two tries. The Bullets shut out Kansas City 36-0. Gerhart said the team's extensive training was a major reason why the Bullets were able to down the Dragons.

"Our fitness played out, and we were more fit than them on the field even when we weren't scoring," Gerhart said.

The two games were the seniors' last as Bullets. Next year's head coach, senior Alison Hays, said that although these players will be missed, she looks to build on the team's successes of this year.

"It makes us feel great to have a 9-3 season," Hays said. "Hopefully, everybody will keep up with their summer workouts and come into next season ready to play."

When the Bulls took on the Benedictine University (Ill.) in the third Truman game of the day, they did not have much to celebrate.

The Bulls came out firing on all cylinders in the first half. The team racked up 20 points while the defense held the Crows to just seven. Things fell apart for the Bulls in the second half, though. Benedictine scored 22 unanswered points, winning 29-22.

Head coach Bill Sexton said the main reason Benedictine came out on top was desire.

"We didn't have a team performance like they did," Sexton said. "Full credit to Benedictine for doing what it took to win the game."

Sexton also said the Bulls' lack of desire in the game was something that has been brewing for a while.

"Early on in the season, when things got going so slowly and it was clear we were not going to go to the Western Collegiate Championships, the motivation to do anything other than just have fun was gone," Sexton said

Several factors outside of the on-field performance worked against the Bulls. One was that senior captain Tony Giubardo was sidelined for his last game as a Bull after suffering a concussion the previous weekend. Sexton said he and Giubardo both decided that although it wasn't the way Giubardo wanted to finish his colligate career, it wasn't worth risking his health.

The other knock against the Bulls came in the second half when sophomore Will Holleman was ejected from the game after punching a Benedictine player.

"That's completely against what we're about, and nobody's happy about it," Sexton said.

Holleman's ejection forced the Bulls to play the rest of the second half short one man.

The loss to the Crows brings the Bulls' spring season to 3-6. While Sexton said he looks forward to improving next season, it will not be without some challenges. Graduation will take its toll with both Giubardo and senior Tim Branch. However, transfers also will make things tough for the Bulls. Junior vice-captain Mike Fitzgerald will start classes at Benedictine in the fall.

"He said he's not going to play for them, but on the other hand, I really hope he does," Sexton said. "He's a very good player. We hate to lose him, but he's got to follow his heart."