After an 18-0 start and securing the second seed in the upcoming national tournament, the IU Mudsharks finally experienced something they had not seen this season against American competition.

An opponent scored first.

³We knew right then we had a game on our hands,² said rugby club president Erin Burkhammer, a junior. ³(But) we pulled our socks up and were able to take it to them.²

The Mudsharks took it to them indeed, responding to the challenge and recovering from the early deficit to defeat Missouri¹s Truman State University Saturday, 47-27, pushing the Mudsharks¹ record to 19-0. Sophomore flanker Gerrit Verplank said No. 6 Truman State provided some of the better competition the Mudsharks have faced this season.

³They were the most organized team we¹ve come against ‹ they retained the ball well,² Verplank said. ³I think what it came down to is we are the faster team, and we had better athletes.²

The Mudsharks wore Truman State out, taking advantage of the heat and Truman State¹s own style of play. The Mudsharks then routed them by using their speed.

³By the time they were trying to run their second or third phase, they were worn out from trying to pound the ball up front and maintain possession,² Burkhammer said. ³When we got the ball, we would pass it out to our backs. By the time we pitched it out, they were so worn down they couldn¹t keep up with us.²

But the price of victory was high, as team captain Don Younger, a junior, came away with a hamstring injury, joining the other Mudsharks who earned purple hearts Saturday. Among them were junior Peter Dinwiddie (torn knee ligaments), senior Brian Hudecek (strained quadriceps muscle) and sophomore Nick Stemper (broken collarbone).

Younger hopes to play Saturday, when the Mudsharks put their perfect record on the line against the University of Illinois¹ rugby team at 1 p.m. at the North Fee Lane Field.

Younger said the injuries will let players who previously played on the Mudsharks¹ B-team to show what they can do on the A-level team.

³We really need (the injured players) back for nationals,² Younger said. ³(But) I think it will be a good opportunity for some of the B-side players to step up and show they can compete with the A-side.²

The Mudsharks know they must count on everyone to step up, with all players on the field contributing.

³We still have our core players out there,² Younger said. ³There¹s still 15 guys on a side ‹ it takes 15 guys to win.²

With IU soundly defeating Illinois the past two years, the game can be expected to be a physical contest.

³It¹s gonna be a hard-hitting game,² Burkhammer said. ³There¹s definitely no love lost between the two teams.²