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NYSRC Crowns 2002 Collegiate Champions - Dec 7, 2002
U Buffalo Captures Premier Men's Title, Cornell Women's

BATAVIA, NY
The New York State Rugby Conference (NYSRC) held its
2002 Collegiate Championships this weekend here at
Genesee Community College.

The conference crowned champions in three men's divisions
(Division I, Division II, and Division III) and WomenÌs Division I,
while also holding preliminary rounds for WomenÌs Division II.

Buffalo and Cornell, the respective Division I men's and women's champions,
paced a field of 24 teams that played over the course of two days.
A record crowd of 350 braved strong winds and 40 degree
temperatures to take in Championship Sunday.

Buffalo captured the MenÌs Premier Division I title after topping Canisius 30-3.
The local rivals played a tight first half, but Buffalo broke it open in the second
behind the play of Brian Ries, who was named the Division MVP.
Both teams will advance to the Northeast Rugby Union (NRU) playoffs next weekend.

Cornell had a much more difficult time in the WomenÌs Premier Division I final,
holding off Syracuse, 13-7. Playing a methodical game, Cornell jumped out to a 13-6 lead.
Syracuse rallied with a try late in the action, but could not overcome Cornell's strong defense.
Cornell's Melinda Martin was named the Division I MVP for her play.

In MenÌs Empire Division II action, Siena came back from an early deficit to defeat
Fredonia, 29-14. Siena's Kevin Quinn led the charge on his way to MVP honors.
Siena had beaten Albany in first round action on October 19,
while Fredonia dispatched Geneseo.

The MenÌs Excelsior Division III championship was decided on Saturday
afternoon, with Cortland running away from Buffalo State, 42-7. Cortland
was led by Tom Petrie, who led a strong team effort that saw six different players score.

The weekend also saw the preliminary rounds of the WomenÌs Division II playoffs.
Cornell B, Cortland, Geneseo and RPI advanced with first round wins on Saturday.
In second round play on Sunday, RPI defeated top-seeded Geneseo, 25-0.
Cortland outlasted Cornell B, 1-0. RPI will square off with Cortland next Saturday,
while Cornell B faces Geneseo.
The top two teams will advance to the NRU playoffs.


This was a great weekend of rugby which featured outstanding championship
play,Ó said Mike Hodgins, NYSRC President. Each of the teams this weekend
were quality clubs, and it showed in their play. We look forward to sending our
representatives to the NRU playoffs and expect them to compete very well.

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: RPI, competing in Women's Division II, has outscored its opponents, 305-0,
this season by virtue of coin tosses to break seeding ties, RPI was seeded fourth in the championships ...

MTV was also a part of the weekend festivities, as the network is following members of the University at Buffalo rugby team for its upcoming Fraternity Life series.

NYSRC will hold its second consecutive championship weekend on Nov. 2-3 in Syracuse, NY
Club Men's and Women's champions will be crowned, as will Women's Collegiate Division II.
The action will be hosted by the Syracuse Chargers, and will take place at JR's BarbQ and Bakes, 7345 East Taft Road, East Syracuse ...admission is free of charge.