Patterson clinches his 10th perfect season

Author: Simon Keyes

There is little in the world these days that everyone can agree upon. However, one thing that comes to mind is losing. No one likes the feeling of losing.

Luckily, though, for men's rugby coach Ward Patterson, losing is not a feeling he has experienced very often in his last 10 years on the sidelines.

By virtue of Middlebury's convincing 58-3 win over the Purple Knights of St. Michaels on Oct. 13, Patterson was guaranteed his 10th undefeated regular season in a row. The impressive record was on the minds of the Panthers when they took to the pitch on Saturday.

"We really had to focus on the game and not get distracted by its implications for our (and Ward's) legacy," wrote captain Luke Yoquinto '08 in an e-mail. "As you can imagine, there is quite a bit of pressure not to lose when you have an undefeated streak going that's lasted a decade."

From the beginning the team was prepared. The Panthers' arrival could be heard throughout the fields as a focused and determined rugby team strode out of the Peterson Family Athletic Complex to the practice field to the tune of bagpipes.

It was business time as usual for the Panthers from that moment on as the team struck first, quickly and often, just as the game plan had stated.

"This week, we knew we had to just go in, ruck hard and get the ball out to the back line to win," wrote Yoquinto. "St. Mike's has a great group of big, athletic guys who fight like savages for the ball, so we focused on getting to rucks quickly and putting points on the board early."

The team did just that as it poured on the points early while giving up only three on an early penalty kick. Max Levine '09 supplied his fair share of the fireworks with two tries "on pure trickery alone," as Yoquinto wrote.

Sam Tormey '09 made his inaugural start for the Panthers and did not disappoint.

"He showed up, made some hits and some kick-returns that were extremely effective," wrote Yoquinto.

Again, though, the day belonged to Patterson, whose 2007-2008 season has been marked by memorable moments.

At the beginning of the season, Patterson was granted a full-time coaching position and then, of course, a position he jusified by guiding the Panthers to another undefeated regular season. Regarding his streak, Patterson seemed both surprised and very pleased.

"[It's]quite an achievement when you consider the changing team each year, the conference changing structure so often, the number of much bigger institutions to compete with," wrote Patterson in an e-mail. "And always being the last college to return to school in the fall."

The Panthers look to continue Patterson's winning ways this weekend in the New England Quarterfinals with the home and away locations still to be determined.