Hannah Greene | Sports Editor
Western Oregon hosted Oregon Institute of Technology for the Championship match on the turf Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. The second time this season the Wolves faced the Owls — previously on Oct. 26, beating them 17-10.
With nerves and excitement, the Wolves showed up early to jump start their day. The eagerness to begin the game was present, the focus and seriousness of what was ahead was highlighted in all the eyes of the Wolves.
The first half started and within five minutes, the Owls scored their first try — a wakeup call for the Wolves, setting the tempo for the final game.
There was no return from Western as the Owls grabbed their second try of the split, the score 12-0. The Wolves gathered to talk and relight their fires, keeping each others’ heads up and in the game.
A gruesome battle of tackles, runs and hard hits led to the Wolves’ first try, completed by Keegan Echevarria, a first-year and past “Man of the Match” — finally adding some points to the scoreboard. The extra two points were kicked by Braedon Eltagonde, a sophomore returner, to make the score 7-12. The Owls were ahead, but the Wolves’ hunger was growing.
Before the first half concluded, time was added, and the Wolves punted the ball only to have it blocked by the Owls, who then snagged the ball and carried it downfield to the endzone, but not before Gabriel Wai, a junior returner, was able to tackle a few of the Owls’ players.
That ended the first half, with the scoreboard reading 19-7, Owls.
The second half started out as more of a scrap than a rugby match, with the ball going either direction down field and the players all wanting a piece of their opponents.
Many hard tackles made by the Wolves created an unbreakable wall against the Owls. Wylie Cossitt, a sophomore returner, gained yards, but not enough to complete a try.
Ten minutes in with no scoring and multiple effective Wolves out of the game including Wai, Riley Bardes, a senior returner and Andrew Reyes, a junior returner — this that demanded players step up and bring their A-game.
Hakam Nagra, a sophomore returner, got handed the ball; he stiff-armed an Owl and gained yards for the Wolves, but still no completed try.
With eight minutes left in the final half, a chill fell across the field and entered the stands; the Wolves looked tired, but kept pushing themselves to score.
Two minutes later, the Owls made for a tricky try, scoring again and pulling ahead 24-7.
The clock counted down as the fatigued Wolves persevered, however they lacked the rabbits foot.
The whistle blew to leave the “W” in the talons of the Owls.
Western Oregon Wolves never let their heads down and played a remarkable match — one to learn from and propel themselves into the winter season.
A few of the Wolves’ players were unable to withstand injury — Eltagonde with a broken nose and Reyes with a concussion — but continued to support their teammates.
Men’s Rugby finished their season with a 5-1 record and their boots full.
Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu
Photos by Hannah Greene
