Quinnipiac University
Penn State
QU Women's Rugby Falls to Penn. State in ACRA National Semifinals, 35-12
12/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rugby
Live Video for Day 2, Consolation and Championship Games
Hamden, Conn. - The Quinnipiac University women's rugby team fell to Penn. State on Saturday afternoon in the ACRA National Semifinals, 35-12. The Bobcats were unable to hold off a late Nittany Lion surge in the second half as PSU scored four consecutive tries to close out the game. QU now stands at 7-4 overall on the season heading into a consolation game on Sunday morning for third place in the nation. Senior Shannon Durkin (Oakland, Calif.) and junior Natalie Kosko (Sebastian, Fla.) led the Bobcats with a try each.
In the first half, Quinnipiac was unable to score against a tough Penn. State defense until late in the frame. After two early scores by PSU, both sides played the ball well defensively, moving the ball in short increments up the field. As play remained mostly at the halfway line, Quinnipiac looked to their scoring leader. Durkin stepped up with a huge try to put the Bobcats on the board. The senior converted her team leading 20th try of the season with a run-over-twenty, weaving in and out of multiple Penn. State tackles for a score up the right sideline.
With no time left on the clock, Penn. State tried for a drop goal to end the half, but kicked it wide. PSU was rewarded a second attempt after a Quinnipiac penalty for rushing the kick too early. On the second try, PSU converted the kick for three points to enter the half with a 13-5 lead.
Quinnipiac controlled the ball for much of the opening minutes in the second half, playing mostly in the scoring territory. Ten minutes into the second half, Kosko, a two-time All-American, scored the second QU try of the afternoon. Kosko found her way through multiple PSU players to score and Aine McKeever (Derry City, Ireland) converted the kick to cut the deficit to one at 13-12.
Penn. State was able to answer with a try of their own at the 20 minute mark, halfway through the second frame. After a missed conversion attempt, PSU took an 18-12 lead. With under 10 minutes to go in the game, the Nittany Lions scored three consecutive tries and a conversion for a 35-12 final score. The Bobcat defense held Penn. State to their lowest scoring total of the season.
After trudging through one of the most demanding and difficult regular season schedules in the country, the Quinnipiac Bobcats stood at 5-2 entering the American Collegiate Rugby Association (ACRA) postseason tournament. QU went on to take down two tough opponents on their way to the semifinals. The Bobcats defeated Army, 46-17 in the round of 16 at Vassar College before going on to overpower an undefeated Brown University squad, 46-20. QU advanced to the semifinal for the second time in three years. In 2012, the Bobcats were defeated by Winona State in Stanford, California. Last season, Quinnipiac lost in the quarterfinals to Navy at the Anderson Rugby Complex in West Point, New York.
Quinnipiac arrived in Palm Coast, Florida looking to capture a victory against an undefeated opponent for the second consecutive game. Penn. State entered the tournament at 13-0 with several wins over big-time programs such as: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Pittsburgh. The Nittany Lions also secured regular season victories over both teams in the other national semifinal on the opposite side of the ACRA bracket. PSU defeated defending national champion Norwich University in their season opener, 43-27. They also routed Indiana University in their last regular season game, 83-0.
Going into the Quinnipiac matchup, the Nittany Lions had outscored their two opponents 188-0 in the postseason. In the round of 16, Penn. State captured a 100-0 win against Kent. State and an 88-0 victory over Lindenwood University in the round of eight. Both games were held at Notre Dame College.
With the win, Penn. State will advance to the ACRA National Championship against the winner of Norwich and Indiana on Sunday, December 7 at 2 PM. Quinnipiac will play their final game of the season for third place in the country at 10 AM against the runner-up of the second semifinal game. Both games will be held at the Indian Trails Sports Complex in Palm Coast, Florida. Live video links will be provided for all of Sunday's women's rugby action.
