The expectations are clear for the Glendale Raptors Women in 2015: It’s them, the defending national champions, a roster made up of multiple USA Eagles players and some contenders for the future. And then it’s on to their next opponent — and they are watching.
And maybe that’s unreasonable.
The Raptors coaches and players hint as much. Heaven knows they are tired of hearing about when they should win –always- and how much they should do it by –more.
But that’s the curse for a team that hasn’t lost in nearly a year.
“It’s always good when you can get a win,” Raptors coach Mark Bullock said after his team’s latest, a 27-24 win over the Oregon Rugby Sports Union (ORSU).
But don’t take it for granted, the Raptors say.
On Saturday, their illustrious win streak will go up against the Berkeley All Blues. The same team, if you remember, that ended another of their runs, quashing their 2012 championship hopes.
Yet it’s a little different now.
The All Blues – 16-time National Champions – look a little like a mixed bag under first-year-coach Katrina Logan through the first two games.
They lost by 36 to ORSU the first week. Beat the San Diego Surfers by 37 the next. And currently, they sit in third place in the Women’s Premier League Blue Conference standings with no real tell of what kind of team they will be after their third game.
Next, they’ll face a banged-up Raptors team.
The Raptors, who were without Mary Pezzulo, Rachel Ryan, Laura Miller, among others, last week, will also be short-handed on Saturday.
Pezzulo and Raquel Serra will be out, and they could be without Ryan too.
“This is allowing some of our newer players to make their stamp on the team and the veteran players have stepped up too,” Bullock said.
The game starts at 3 p.m. and scores will be reported on the Raptors Facebookand Twitter pages.
The Raptors then come home to play in the stadium at Infinity Park for the following two games: ORSU on October 10, All Blues on October 24. Both matches start at 3pm and tickets can be bought online here.
Image Credit: Seth McConnell