Eastern’s chance at an undefeated season came to an end Sunday, losing to Texas A&M 27-12 in Little Rock, Ark.

The loss was the first of the season for the Panthers and ended a 14-game winning streak that stretched back to last season.

Eastern had outscored their opponents 653-42 this season, but the most important number for them was 10, as in 10-0.

The last time Eastern went undefeated was in 2002.

Freshman wing Crystal Jones scored the only two trys on Sunday.

In the first half, Jones picked up a loose ball and ran it in to the left side. The second try came in the second half.

Jones received a long pass and ran straight to the corner of the try zone with about 15 minutes left to play in the game.

Jones said it was tough not being able to stretch the field out against Texas A&M defense.

“They were up in our face constantly and they made it hard to make long runs,” Jones said.

What was bad, Jones said, was not the loss itself, but that it came at the end of the season, being the last game the seniors will ever play in.

Junior co-captain Eileen O’Rourke said the team broke down and didn’t play their style of rugby.

When the Aggies scored right off the bat, the Panthers were put in an awkward position, O’Rourke said.

“It was a tough game last year and we knew they were gonna be different,” O’Rourke said.

Last season, the Panthers beat Texas A&M 25-0.

The worst part of the loss in the last game of this season is that the Panthers can’t come back and redeem themselves, O’Rourke said.

Senior co-captain Lindsay Leskanich said the team played well, but made a few mistakes, which the Aggies were able to capitalize on.

The initial thought heading into Sunday’s game was the same as every other game, Leskanich said.

“Defense played exceptional,” Leskanich said.

Six seniors will graduate but the Panthers will return their top three scorers in sophomore wings Jones and Samantha Manto and sophomore center Molly Clutter.