Even though this was its first-ever trip to Sacramento, Calif., the Wildcat rugby team still had a bit of familiarity in the match this weekend against Sacramento State.

Arizona saw a familiar face on the opposing sideline: A former Wildcat rugby standout Justin Pritchard, the Hornet head coach.

Arizona was familiar with Pritchard's team as well, having beaten Sacramento State twice in the last two years.

The only thing that was different from this year's matchup was the outcome.

In their final non-conference match of the year, the Wildcats (2-5, 0-0) fell to Sacramento State, 29-20. UA failed to run its winning streak over the Hornets to three, but Sacramento State continued a winning streak of its own. The Hornets (8-0) are currently unbeaten for the season.

In this match, the game was close the entire way. The Wildcats played most of the game in the Hornets' territory but, on several occasions, could never punch in the try when they needed one.

"It was a hard-fought, physical game," head coach Dave Sitton said.

UA was led by its front row of players, including senior Joe Schmitt and junior Drew Hoffman.

The Wildcats were scheduled to play the University of Nevada Saturday. However, the match against the Wolfpack was changed to a scrimmage when the referee failed to show up.

UA will not play this weekend, instead getting some much-needed rest before its first conference games Feb. 8 and 10 against the University of California Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, respectively.

Sitton said recovery was the team's first priority in its two weeks of practice, but it was also important to get set positions in the back field.

The team has been playing most of the year with a mixture of players in the backfield. Players such as senior Andrew Libowitz and junior David Wood have played as many as three different positions this year.

"We need to get a set backfield lineup," Sitton said.

The Wildcats are currently on a four-game losing streak and are heading into conference play, where they are looking to turn things around.

"We need to get our act together and fast," Sitton said.