The Penn State women's rugby team played a very physical game against Lock Haven last night. Lock Haven dominated the first two periods, scoring two tries and one conversion in the first period and another try in the second. Penn State seemed outmatched, losing virtually every scrum, and spending most of the time in its own end. Going into the final period, Penn State's lady ruggers, having yet to score, were trailing 17-0.

The third period was a different story. The lady ruggers came out fired up and intense. They took the play to Lock Haven and put on tremendous pressure. Penn State kept the play down in the Lock Haven end and seemed to be wearing down the opposition. Still, the lady ruggers could not seem to get the ball in their end. Every time they got close to the goal line, Lock Haven seemed to get a long clearing kick. Finally, halfway through the period, rookie Laura Lynn Clawson finally crossed the Lock Haven goal line and touched the ball down. The conversion was no good, but Penn State cut the lead to 17-5. Clawson's score was especially impressive because this was only the second game she has played.

Laura's enthusiasm over her first try was evident.

"It was awesome!" she said. "The game is still coming together for me, but I feel good."

Laura was clearly the standout player offensively in that final period of play. She was flying around the field, and even took a vicious hit toward the end of the game. She popped right back up and finished the game strongly, as the rest of her teammates did too.

"My thigh hurts. I just have to walk it off," Clawson said, commenting on the hit she took.

The lady ruggers failed to score again, and lost the game 17-5. Coach Pete Steinberg was proud of his team's effort despite the loss. He went on to tell his team after the game that he was pleased with their effort, but that they need to think less during the game, and just play with no inhibitions.

The Penn State fall season has been underway for a few weeks now, and after this game against Lock Haven, it brings the B-side's record to 2-4.

The A-side's record currently stands at 3-2-1. Nationals do not start until the spring season, and coach Steinberg uses the fall season to develop his younger players and prepare the veterans.

"The fall is a developmental period for our young players," Steinberg said. "The only way that they will improve is to play."

No seniors played in the game against Lock Haven, and the full A-side team does not play much until the spring season with exception to their annual game with Navy. The Navy game will determine Penn State's seed in the Nationals during the spring. Penn State lost its game with Navy on Saturday Sept. 27, so it will be seeded No. 2 in the spring.