For more than 40 years Oregon’s rugby team has been a competitive force, and this year will be no different.
Rugby began its season Sunday, challenging Humboldt State at Oregon’s Southbank Field.
Oregon lead almost the entire match, but Humboldt State managed to score in the final minute to win by a single point, 16-15.
“Even though we didn’t win, I think the game showed we have a really good group of athletes,” Oregon’s Danny McCormick said. “With new coaches and a solid group, I think we will do very well in our league.”
Oregon’s rugby team will play 15 games in the coming months, facing schools such as Washington, Western Washington, Central Washington and Oregon State.
Oregon will have this weekend to rest and get ready for two long road trips. The Ducks face Chico State on Nov. 8 and then travel to Logan, Utah, to play Utah State on Nov. 15.
A civil war is in store for Oregon’s next home game, which will be played at Southbank on Nov. 22.
Oregon’s rugby players plan on winning their games, especially the league title.
“I think winning league is definitely attainable,” McCormick said.

Second-half struggle
The women’s Club soccer team traveled to Portland this past Saturday to play its first game of the season against Lewis and Clark College.
Oregon led the Pioneers, a Division-III team, by a score of 2-1 at halftime. Annie Loney scored both goals in the first half, but was held scoreless in the second half as Oregon failed to find the back of the net in the final 45 minutes.
Lewis and Clark capitalized on its opportunities in the second half of play, scoring two goals to build the team’s first lead of the game. The Pioneers’ offense proved to be too strong for the Ducks in the second half, and Lewis and Clark came away with a 3-2 win.
Despite the loss, Angel Anguiano, the women’s Club soccer coordinator, was encouraged by the team’s overall play.
“I was really impressed how we played in our first game,” Anguiano said. “I thought the level of play
was pretty high compared to previous years.”
Oregon’s team this year consists of 22 players, including 11 newcomers.
“Tryouts were really competitive and from the original group, I think we chose some really solid players,” Anguiano said.
Oregon will compete in its first tournament Nov. 8, battling Oregon State as well as California.

A tournament team
It’s been a long time since Oregon’s tae kwon do club has competed in a tournament.
This weekend, the Club will take its largest group ever to Portland to participate in the 2003 Northwest Open Martial Arts Championships.
The team will enter 13 men and women in the tournament and will compete in the Olympic Sparring division.
“Some of us are black belts and some of us are yellow belts, and then we have everything in between,” coordinator Lizzi Esterberg said. “We are all at different levels, which makes it a whole lot of fun and a great learning experience.”
The club usually practices twice a week at the Student Recreation Center, but due to the upcoming tournament the club has increased practices to prepare for its first tournament of the year.
“This is my first tournament ever too, and I have heard it is really exciting and very intense, so we want to make sure we are ready,” Esterberg said.