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The Hornet rugby teams were in full tilt this past weekend, as both the men’s and women’s teams destroyed their competition.

The women’s team started the Bay Area massacre by pounding San Jose State University 39-5, while clinching a Div. II playoff berth. The men followed the women’s performance by crushing St. Mary’s College 54-31.

Cara Padilla got the scoring started for the women’s team when she converted a try (worth five points) five minutes into the match. The Hornets split the uprights on the conversion (worth two points) to stake a 7-0 lead over the Spartans.

The Hornets extended their lead to 22-5 at the half, receiving tries from Heather Luy, Ashley Kosavanna and Julie Gustafson. The second half was dominated by outside center Sanoi Sao, who converted on two-second half tries. It was Sao’s physical presence throughout the game, which sent San Jose State ball carriers running for cover.

“The only way to get pumped up is to see the team playing together,” said Sao, a native of Oahu, Hawaii, who grew up playing Pop Warner football.

Sao also played two years of softball at a Washington junior college, before transferring to Sac State.

“Softball is just not good for the adrenaline,” Sao said.With Sao bringing the pain and Padilla adding the offensive punch, women’s rugby coach Josh Deaser feels his team is ready to take the Div. II title.

“I feel very confident. The ladies work hard and they work together,” Deaser said. “I see us winning a national championship.”

If the Hornets do happen to win the Div. II national championship, they will have the option of moving up to Div. I for the following year.

The Hornet men, who captured the Div. II title in 1999 to move up to Div. I, fell behind early against St. Mary’s 12-10. This is when the Hornets went on a 36-7 run to close out the game.

Travis Taylor led the way for the men, converting three tries.

“We worked really well together,” Taylor said. “I just happened to be in the right spot.”

The Hornet’s also received tries from Chris Call, Adam Macrae, Matt Foster, and Nathan Trivers. Call converted 5-of-7 conversions for the Hornets.

The Hornet men will next travel to Berkeley, where they will take on the University of California, Berkeley who have dominated the collegiate rugby scene for the past decade.

“(Berkeley) is better than us,” men’s coach Justin Prichard said. “If we play above our heads, and they play below their ability, it’s possible.”

Prichard feels his team picked up the intensity against the Gaels, but still need to work on staying composed on the field.

“We let the referee, the people on the sideline, and the other team get in our head,” Prichard said.

Taylor, who has been hampered by a shoulder injury, feels that the team is becoming more composed on the field.

“Not all things will go our way,” Taylor said. “It’s up to us to not let these little things get to us.”