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NYS Rugby Holds 2004 Collegiate Upstates Tournament
37th Annual Event to be held in Geneva

GENEVA, NY -- The New York State Rugby Conference (NYS Rugby) held the 2004 Collegiate Upstates Championships on Saturday at Seneca Lake State Park on the shores of Geneva Lake. The conference crowned champions in three men's divisions and women's divisions (Division I, Division II, and Division III).

"This was a great day for all who competed in, officiated and attended the Upstates Championship," said J.C. Whipple, Executive Director of NYS Rugby. "Each of the teams this weekend were quality clubs, and it showed in their play. This afternoon's tournament caps another outstanding year for our conference, and we look forward to the 2004 fall season."

Buffalo and Cornell, the respective Premier Division I men's and women's champions, paced a field of 46 teams, as a record crowd of 450 attended on a sunny and windy day.

Buffalo captured its second consecutive Men's Premier Division crown after going a perfect 2-0 in pool play, and then topping Cornell, 17-0, in the championship match. Cornell had a similar match in the Women's Premier Division I final, holding off Buffalo, 12-5. In pool play, Cornell defeated Ithaca and Oneonta to advance to the championship match. Buffalo and Cornell both won their respective championships in the fall as well.

In women's Empire Division II action, RPI jumped out to an early lead and held off a spirited RIT team to win, 10-0. Buffalo State and Hobart battled down to the final minutes in the men's Empire Division II final. Buffalo State used a late penalty kick to earn a hard-fought 6-5 win.

Cortland claimed both the men's and women's Excelsior Division III titles. The women, a perfect 3-0 on the afternoon, won the championship with a 10-0 victory over Oswego in the championship match; they outscored their opponents, 49-0, on the afternoon. In the men's final, Cortland and St. Lawrence played a spirited match, with Cortland hanging on for a 10-7 win.

The New York State Rugby Conference governs over 70 clubs at the men's and women's club, men's and women's collegiate, and youth levels.

NOTES: In women's Premier Division I play, Oneonta and Brockport were moved up from their normal Empire Division II because of scheduling needs ... Oneonta defeated Syracuse, 5-0, in its opening match and played eventual champion Cornell extremely tough ... Brockport also showed well, falling to Binghamton and Union in two well-played matches ... the Binghamton men will be moving to Premier Division I play in the fall, while the Cortland men will move up to Empire Division II ... George Betzler, USA Rugby Game Development Officer (GDO), was in attendance observing play at the champioship ... Betzler met with officials of eight colleges and universities in the day leading up to the championship ... Betzler also conducted Player Development Camps in four cities this week.