Allison Mueller/ Winonan
Winona State University’s rugby head coach Joshua Krzewinski believes he does not need to motivate or pump up his team before any game. The Black Katts take care of themselves — especially before a big game against their conference rival.
“If you need motivation to be excited about playing the sport you love and competing in a big game, something’s wrong,” Krzewinski said.
The Black Katts traveled to Mankato on Saturday to compete against the second place team in the conference. The game ended with a Black Katt win over Mankato 39-7
The two teams previously faced each other in the All Minnesota Tournament Championship to start off the season. That game also ended in a 35-5 win for Winona State.
Krzewinski said the coaching staff and the players knew Mankato had improved since the tournament.
“They keep getting stronger and more organized on the field. They have had a steady coach for a few seasons and have added some additional help in that area as well,” Krzewinski said. “They play with a lot of passion. Dealing with their threats isn’t my concern, it’s making mental mistakes which could allow Mankato to hang with us which worries me.”
In turn, Krzewinski aimed to have Mankato make the mental mistakes on the field — not the Black Katts. The team worked on this in practice the week before the game.
“Our defense will be focused on beating Mankato to the gain line, forcing them to do things sooner than planned and make passing and handling errors,” Krzewinski said.
Senior cocaptain and lock Kourtney Kavajecz said two crucial elements helped to secure a Black Katt victory over Mankato: to focus and play as a team.
“If we play as a team and rely on one another to play our game and not worry about what Mankato is doing, then we are set,” Kavajecz said. “If we aren’t focused individually and as a team, then we will not compete at the level we have been training at.”
Krzewinski agreed and said that the Black Katts could not let the importance of the match get to them. He also said that Mankato had a large family and friends event and would have a crowd cheering them on. Krzewinski pushed for the Black Katts to tune that out and execute their positional roles.
The Black Katts tuned out the opposing fan’s cheers and received the opening kick off. They pushed forward and backed up the Maverick’s defensive line, allowing captain and scrumhalf Georgia Porter to score the first try of the match.
Due to efforts from inside center Lanoira Duhart and a pass from flyhalf Nikki Linberg to Lindsey Bucki, prop Kathryn Zahn received the ball and scored Winona State’s second try of the match, bringing the score 10-0.
A big counter ruck followed, allowing Porter to make her way past Mankato’s defense for her second try and the third try for the Black Katts.
A stolen line out by Kavajecz and a forward punch allowed Porter to connect with Linberg who scored a back line-try. This rounded out the end of the first half with a score of 20-0.
Duhart scored the first try of the second half after several scrums and quick ball reversals.
The Black Katts focused on a fast pace game with planned substitutions, solid tackling and powerful running. This allowed Duhart to score her second try of the match and a conversion from wing Madison Skalecki, bringing the score to 32-0.
Prop Rachel Hunter-Schlicting followed by breaking several tackles and diving in over the try line to score. After Skalecki’s converted the Black Katts were up 39-0.
Mankato fought until the end and scored a try after an offside penalty by Winona State. The conversion to follow ended the game 39-7.
The Black Katts will host St. Cloud State University on Saturday. Both teams are tied at 2-0 in the Northern Lights Conference.
