Saturday, November 14
Hamden, Conn.
12:00 PM
Quinnipiac University
84
vs
7
West Chester (Pa.) - NCVWRA Quarterfinals
QU Women's Rugby Advances to NCVWRA Semifinals with 84-7 Win Over West Chester
11/14/2015 3:28:00 PM | Women's Rugby
Ilona Maher Records Three Tries in Victory
HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac women's rugby team advanced to the National Collegiate Varsity Women's Rugby Association (NCVWRA) Semifinals on Saturday afternoon with a dominating, 84-7, win over the West Chester Golden Rams. With the result, the Bobcats improved to 9-2 on the year, posting their fourth straight victory.
After defeating the Golden Rams in Pennsylvania, 100-10, just a week ago, the Bobcats were determined for a similar result in the quarterfinal matchup of the first ever NCVWRA Tournament.
Neither team was able to get much offense going in the opening minutes, but once the Bobcat scoring started, it didn't stop. About seven minutes into the first half, junior Maggie Myles (Emmitsburg, Maryland) broke open the contest with the game's first try of the day. From about 10 yards out, Myles caught a pass from sophomore inside center Ilona Maher (Burlington, Vermont) and successfully weaved in and out of a couple defenders for the score.
After an unsuccessful conversion, Quinnipiac took back the kickoff for a second try within two minutes of the first. The Bobcats received the kick and found sophomore Flora Poole (Christchurch, New Zealand) who took the ball about 45 yards down the right sideline before dishing to Rebecca Haight (Oconomowoc, Washington) for her first score of the game. A successful kick by junior Madison Gegeckas (Dowington, Pennsylvania) gave QU a 12-0 lead.
Two more Bobcats pushed through for tries after a couple minutes of tough defense against West Chester. Freshman Emily Roskopf (Pleasanton, California) and junior Tayler Schussler (West Minster, Maryland) scored back-to-back tries to put Quinnipiac up 22-0.
With under 17 minutes to go in the opening fame, Maher ran through multiple Golden Ram tackles for her first try of the game. The Bobcats' leading scorer gave QU a 27-0 advantage.
After Maher's score, West Chester finally broke through the Bobcats' back line for their first and only try of the afternoon. A successful Golden Rams' kick brought the score to 27-7 with still over 10 minutes to go in the half.
Quinnipiac was able to post three more tries before the break, giving them a 46-7 lead at halftime. At the six minute mark, Mason Johnson (Olympia, Washington) looked to her left and found senior Raechel Stimson (Cameron Park, California) in space who ran the ball up the middle for the try.
A couple minutes later, Johnson stepped up with her second consecutive assist. Poole recorded another long run before feeding Johnson as she was being brought to the ground. With nowhere to go, Johnson offloaded to freshman Autumn Martin (Riverside, California) on the sideline for the try.
In the final seconds of the half, after a couple strong runs by multiple Bobcats, the ball found the hands of Schussler who took it in for her second try of the contest.
Out of halftime, Quinnipiac never let up, scoring six more tries in the final 40 minutes. The Bobcats came out of the break roaring, scoring three quick tries, all from different players. Stimson and Haight captured their second scores of the game while Poole added to her first half assist with a try to put QU on top 67-7.
After a try and an assist in the first frame, Maher continued her offensive production with back-to-back scores in the second half. The sophomore pushed through for a try at the 18 minute mark before taking a 50 yard run to the house for her team-leading 38th try of the year.
Johnson rounded out the scoring barrage with the Bobcats' final try in the closing moments of the game. Out of the scrum, Johnson juked a defender and ran in for the score, bringing the final to 84-7.
Quinnipiac is back in action next weekend for the NCVWRA Semifinals at Brown in Providence, Rhode Island. The Bobcats will take on the Norwich Cadets on Friday, November 20 at 1 p.m. Earlier this season, Quinnipiac defeated the Cadets in Vermont, 48-19 behind two tries each from Roskopf and Maher.
After defeating the Golden Rams in Pennsylvania, 100-10, just a week ago, the Bobcats were determined for a similar result in the quarterfinal matchup of the first ever NCVWRA Tournament.
Neither team was able to get much offense going in the opening minutes, but once the Bobcat scoring started, it didn't stop. About seven minutes into the first half, junior Maggie Myles (Emmitsburg, Maryland) broke open the contest with the game's first try of the day. From about 10 yards out, Myles caught a pass from sophomore inside center Ilona Maher (Burlington, Vermont) and successfully weaved in and out of a couple defenders for the score.
After an unsuccessful conversion, Quinnipiac took back the kickoff for a second try within two minutes of the first. The Bobcats received the kick and found sophomore Flora Poole (Christchurch, New Zealand) who took the ball about 45 yards down the right sideline before dishing to Rebecca Haight (Oconomowoc, Washington) for her first score of the game. A successful kick by junior Madison Gegeckas (Dowington, Pennsylvania) gave QU a 12-0 lead.
Two more Bobcats pushed through for tries after a couple minutes of tough defense against West Chester. Freshman Emily Roskopf (Pleasanton, California) and junior Tayler Schussler (West Minster, Maryland) scored back-to-back tries to put Quinnipiac up 22-0.
With under 17 minutes to go in the opening fame, Maher ran through multiple Golden Ram tackles for her first try of the game. The Bobcats' leading scorer gave QU a 27-0 advantage.
After Maher's score, West Chester finally broke through the Bobcats' back line for their first and only try of the afternoon. A successful Golden Rams' kick brought the score to 27-7 with still over 10 minutes to go in the half.
Quinnipiac was able to post three more tries before the break, giving them a 46-7 lead at halftime. At the six minute mark, Mason Johnson (Olympia, Washington) looked to her left and found senior Raechel Stimson (Cameron Park, California) in space who ran the ball up the middle for the try.
A couple minutes later, Johnson stepped up with her second consecutive assist. Poole recorded another long run before feeding Johnson as she was being brought to the ground. With nowhere to go, Johnson offloaded to freshman Autumn Martin (Riverside, California) on the sideline for the try.
In the final seconds of the half, after a couple strong runs by multiple Bobcats, the ball found the hands of Schussler who took it in for her second try of the contest.
Out of halftime, Quinnipiac never let up, scoring six more tries in the final 40 minutes. The Bobcats came out of the break roaring, scoring three quick tries, all from different players. Stimson and Haight captured their second scores of the game while Poole added to her first half assist with a try to put QU on top 67-7.
After a try and an assist in the first frame, Maher continued her offensive production with back-to-back scores in the second half. The sophomore pushed through for a try at the 18 minute mark before taking a 50 yard run to the house for her team-leading 38th try of the year.
Johnson rounded out the scoring barrage with the Bobcats' final try in the closing moments of the game. Out of the scrum, Johnson juked a defender and ran in for the score, bringing the final to 84-7.
Quinnipiac is back in action next weekend for the NCVWRA Semifinals at Brown in Providence, Rhode Island. The Bobcats will take on the Norwich Cadets on Friday, November 20 at 1 p.m. Earlier this season, Quinnipiac defeated the Cadets in Vermont, 48-19 behind two tries each from Roskopf and Maher.
Players Mentioned
Hooker
/ Women's Rugby
Wing
/ Women's Rugby
Scrum Half
/ Women's Rugby
Forward
/ Women's Rugby
Flank
/ Women's Rugby
Fly Half
/ Women's Rugby
Flank
/ Women's Rugby
Outside Center
/ Women's Rugby
Flank / 8-Man
/ Women's Rugby
Hooker
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