by Justin Goodrum
Daily Lobo
Inexperience was the biggest factor in the Lobos' blowout losses to the No. 2 Air Force men and the No. 1 Air Force women.
The women played first and went down 52-8. Some of their starters were new to the team.
"Today's game was our first game of the season that all of us have played together," Sheree Risley-Aragon said. "We've had a lot of new girls, and so we've kind of needed to strengthen our defense and teach them some of the basic rules since it is their first game."
Senior captain Parisa Asgharzadeh also said the newcomers on the team played well in their debut.
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"Those girls had a challenge because they played (Air Force) for their first game ever," she said. "But I think that we play them in a month, and I think we have a chance to work on all of our faults and come back and give them a show."
Asgharzadeh also said the team is going to watch videos from the match to help prepare for upcoming games. She said the team should improve as it continues to gain experience.
"As a whole, I think we have a lot of good athletes, and we have a really good chance at our game against Air Force in April for the regional competition," Risley-Aragon said.
The Lobo men concluded the doubleheader of rugby action and fell short 52-10.
The Lobos scored before the end of halftime and converted a penalty kick in the beginning of the second half.
Coach Shannon Robinson said the men's team needed to improve on conditioning, but he was happy overall with the effort.
"More fitness - that will be the biggest change," Robinson said. "But you know what? That was a heck of a game. So right now I'm real happy with the boys."
Assistant coach Ian Jones also said the team needed better fitness if it wants to beat Air Force.
"We're playing one of the top four teams in the country, and we're arch rivals, so that was a pretty nasty rugby match," Jones said. "There was something for everybody out there. It almost broke into a hockey match."
Junior Andre Jackson said playing more matches will make the team better.
"We need to play more games," he said. "They played three games before this, and this was our first game. We're just not in match fitness."
Robinson also said his team was inexperienced but will get better.
"Our team is very young," he said. "We need a little more experience, but at the same time, these are all New Mexico athletes. I'm just really proud of them today. I think it will come."
