Six Bobcats Score as QU Women's Rugby Defeats Brown, 53-7

Saturday, October 10

Providence, R.I. / Marvel Field

11:00 AM

Quinnipiac University

Brown

Six Bobcats Score as QU Women's Rugby Defeats Brown, 53-7

10/10/2015 1:55:00 PM | Women's Rugby

Ilona Maher Tallies Three Tries and Two Assists in the Victory

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Quinnipiac women's rugby team stretched their winning streak to four games and improved to 5-1 on the season with a 53-7 victory over Brown on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore inside center Ilona Maher (Burlington, Vermont) led the Bobcats with three second half tries while adding two assists on the day.

When discussing her team's performance, head coach Becky Carlson stated, "today's game was fluid and we maintained control despite Brown's big push in the scrums."

Quinnipiac had a huge game from both ends of the field. Offensively, six different Bobcats scored a try while defensively, QU shutout the Bears in the second half and allowed just one score throughout the game.

The Bobcats took an early lead just five minutes into the first half. Senior Tesni Phillips (Cheshire, Connecticut) put the Bobcats up 5-0 after punching in from short yardage with her first try of the season.

A little over ten minutes later, Quinnipiac scored their second try of the day and took a 12-0 lead after a successful conversion by junior Madison Gegeckas (Dowington, Pennsylvania). Sophomore wing Rebecca Haight (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) captured her second try of the season off a lineout and assist from freshman teammate Emily Roskopf (Pleasanton, California). In last year's matchup, Haight led the Bobcats with two tries in the 46-20 victory over the Bears in the ACRA quarterfinal at Vassar College.

Just four minutes later, the Bobcats were rewarded another lineout after a Brown penalty. Maher drew the defenders before a last second feed to Roskopf for her team leading 11^th try of the season. Gegeckas put the ball through the uprights to bring the score to 19-0. The prop finished the day 4-for-9 from the conversion mark.

The Bears were able to secure their first score late in the half off a Quinnipiac kick. Brown took the ball back for the try and converted the kick to cut the advantage to 19-7.

The Bobcats quickly answered with their fourth try of the opening frame. Off a lineout, the Quinnipiac backs all touched the ball before Phillips dished to senior Raechel Stimson (Cameron Park, California) for the score. Quinnipiac led 24-7 entering the break.

The Bobcats came out of the break firing from all cylinders, taking a 22 point lead early in the second half. Off another QU lineout, Flora Poole (Christchurch, New Zealand) found Maher who broke through multiple tackles and scored Quinnipiac's fifth try of the day.

The same duo connected for a second try about 10 minutes later. Poole recorded her second assist of the day after feeding Maher for another score while Gegeckas' successful kick put QU up 36-7. Poole and Phillips combined for four runs over twenty, each tallying two a piece.

"Flora Poole played fly half today and was an absolute star, exploiting space at all the right times and offloading with precision and intent," said Carlson.

Within the final 15 minutes, the Bobcats scored three more tries. Sophomore Karee Helgerson (Portland, Oregon) captured her second try of the year while freshman Autumn Martin (Riverside, California) came through with her first career score. Megan Johnson tapped the ball out to Maher who found Martin for the try.

With time winding down, Maher scored her third try of the half and ninth of the season, putting the Bobcats up 53-7. The sophomore was sensational from all over the field, as her and Roskopf each added five solo tackles and five runs over twenty to the lead the team.

When assessing Maher's performance, Carlson said, "Ilona Maher was invaluable at the midfield where she took advantage of every loose ball and turned them into powerful runs and explosive energy."

Next weekend the Bobcats will look to improve to 3-0 at the QU Rugby Field when they take on the Central Washington Wildcats. On Sunday, October 18, Quinnipiac will host the Wildcats for a 12 p.m. showdown.