Quinnipiac University
West Chester
QU Women's Rugby Takes Down West Chester On Senior Day, Durkin Leads With Four Tries
11/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rugby
Hamden, Conn. – The Quinnipiac women's rugby team capped off their regular season with an impressive 36-17 victory over the West Chester Golden Rams. The Bobcats improved to 5-3 while West Chester dropped to 5-1 on the year. Senior Shannon Durkin (Oakland, California) led the Quinnipiac attack with four tries in her final home game as a Bobcat.
Prior to the game, Quinnipiac coaches Becky Carlson and Michelle Reed, along with athletic director Jack McDonald honored five student-athletes for senior day. The Department of Athletics recognized graduate students, Ashaa Russell (Bronx, New York) and Aine McKeever (Derry City, Ireland) along with seniors Elisa Cuellar (Palm Bay, Florida), Durkin and Jennifer Salomon (Garnerville, New York).
On a cold afternoon in Hamden, the Bobcats stood strong and look poised throughout the contest. Durkin put Quinnipiac on the board first with a short run up the middle about six minutes into the game. McKeever converted the kick to give QU an early 7-0 lead. Five minutes later, fresh off her best game in a Bobcat uniform, sophomore Maggie Myles (Emmmitsburg, Maryland) added five points to the lead with a gorgeous 30 yard run. The sophomore showed some quick feet as she weaved up the sideline, juking defenders left and right for the try.
Quinnipiac put together a couple stifling defensive stands to keep the Golden Rams out of the in-goal area. West Chester came into the contest outscoring their opponents, 400-10, including a 110-0 victory. But it wasn't until the 30:47 mark that West Chester was able to score their only points of the half. Senior Erin Brosius scored off a short run up the left sideline to make the score 12-5.
Durkin tacked on her second try of the afternoon and final Bobcat score of the half with a minute and a half to play. She pushed the ball through for five points after a short run into West Chester traffic. Quinnipiac led the Golden Rams 19-5 at the break.
The start of the second frame looked almost identical to the beginning of the game. Durkin again scored six minutes into the half, but this time to take a 26-5 advantage after McKeever's successful conversion. West Chester was able to cut the lead to nine with 18 minutes still to play in regulation after back-to-back tries.
Less than three minutes after the Golden Rams' second try of the half, QU quickly answered off the play of sophomore Christie Albers (Castle Rock, Colorado). The Bobcats marched down the field with several short passes, moving the ball across the field. Albers converted a short run to go up 31-17. Durkin scored the final points of the contest with five minutes remaining to secure a final score of 36-17. The senior registered a 35 yard run and went untouched into the scoring area.
With four tries on the day, Durkin has scored 11 times in the last two games. She now leads the Bobcats in tries with 16.
Up next, the Quinnipiac women's rugby team will compete in the American Collegiate Rugby Association National Tournament. The Bobcats will face Army on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Vassar College. Earlier in the season, the Bobcats took down the Black Knights 50-17 at the QU Rugby Field.
