Friday, November 20
Providence, R.I. / Marvel Field
1:00 PM
Quinnipiac University
36
vs
22
Norwich
QU Women's Rugby Advances to Varsity Championship with 36-22 Victory Over Norwich
11/20/2015 3:43:00 PM | Women's Rugby
Maher and Myles Each Score Two Tries in Win
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – The Quinnipiac women's rugby team is championship bound after their 36-22 victory over Norwich in the NCVWRA Semifinals on Friday afternoon. After an early score by the Cadets, two first half tries by sophomore Ilona Maher (Burlington, Vermont) and junior Maggie Myles (Emmitsburg, Maryland) gave the Bobcats the lead for good. With the result, Quinnipiac improves to 10-2 on the year and boosts their winning streak to five games.
The Bobcats will meet Army West Point in the final after the Black Knights took down AIC, 25-21 in the first game of the day. The championship will represent the rubber match for Quinnipiac and Army as both teams split their two meetings this year. After falling to the Black Knights, 29-24 in New York, QU won their home matchup, 20-12.
Just one minute into the semifinal, Norwich jumped out to a 7-0 lead. After the opening Norwich kickoff, the Cadets quickly gained possession, stealing the ball deep in their scoring area. Norwich successfully marched down the short field for a wide open try down the right sideline. A successful Cadet conversion put the squad up by seven.
With 25 minutes to go in the first half, Maher got the Bobcats on the board with her first try of the game. After a Cadet penalty, a tap and go let to the Quinnipiac score. Junior Madison Gegeckas (Downington, Pennsylvania) converted the kick to tie the game at 7-7.
About six minutes after their first try, the Bobcats took their first lead of the game with a score by Myles (pictured). From just a couple yards out, QU swung the ball to the
outside to find the hands of the junior. The try was well-earned as Myles fought hard to get in close and posted the score as she was being brought down by two defenders. Freshman Emily Roskopf was credited with the assist.
Now trailing 12-7, the Cadets quickly answered with a try of their own to even the score. Norwich captured their second try of the half by pushing the ball up field a couple yards at a time, eventually resulting in a score.
Only a short time later, Maher secured her second try with a huge run over twenty down the middle of the field. With 11 minutes left in the frame, the sophomore
ran over multiple Cadets for the long try off an assist from sophomore Flora Poole (Christchurch, New Zealand).
Poole was right in the middle of the action about three minutes later, leading to the Bobcats fourth score of the half. The New Zealand native broke free for her second run over twenty, about 50 yards down the field as she juked a defender and dished to Myles on her left side as she was being tackled by the opposition. Myles gave Quinnipiac a 24-12 lead heading into the break with her second score.
Similar to the Cadets in the first half, the Bobcats quickly got the scoring started in the second. Less than two minutes into the final frame, Norwich found themselves backed up in the Quinnipiac scoring area. As a Cadet tried to kick the ball down field, Myles broke through the line to block the kick. Senior Jennifer Fremd (Oak Harbor, Washington) recovered the ball in the try area to push the Bobcat lead to 29-12.
With 21 minutes remaining in regulation, Norwich scored their first try of the second half to cut the QU advantage back to 12. Just moments later, the Cadets again threatened to chip away at the deficit, but the Bobcats made a huge stop and took over possession of the ball.
The next 15 minutes of action consisted of strong defensive stands as both sides recorded multiple steals. With the ball deep in their territory, Poole broke through a congested defense for her first score of the semifinal. Gegeckas' successful conversion gave Quinnipiac a 36-17 lead.
Norwich scored one last late try with a minute to go for a final score of 36-22 in favor of the top seed. The title game is set to take place on Sunday, November 22 at 1 p.m. from Brown University.
(Photo courtesy of Donna Doherty)
The Bobcats will meet Army West Point in the final after the Black Knights took down AIC, 25-21 in the first game of the day. The championship will represent the rubber match for Quinnipiac and Army as both teams split their two meetings this year. After falling to the Black Knights, 29-24 in New York, QU won their home matchup, 20-12.
Just one minute into the semifinal, Norwich jumped out to a 7-0 lead. After the opening Norwich kickoff, the Cadets quickly gained possession, stealing the ball deep in their scoring area. Norwich successfully marched down the short field for a wide open try down the right sideline. A successful Cadet conversion put the squad up by seven.
With 25 minutes to go in the first half, Maher got the Bobcats on the board with her first try of the game. After a Cadet penalty, a tap and go let to the Quinnipiac score. Junior Madison Gegeckas (Downington, Pennsylvania) converted the kick to tie the game at 7-7.
About six minutes after their first try, the Bobcats took their first lead of the game with a score by Myles (pictured). From just a couple yards out, QU swung the ball to the
outside to find the hands of the junior. The try was well-earned as Myles fought hard to get in close and posted the score as she was being brought down by two defenders. Freshman Emily Roskopf was credited with the assist.
Now trailing 12-7, the Cadets quickly answered with a try of their own to even the score. Norwich captured their second try of the half by pushing the ball up field a couple yards at a time, eventually resulting in a score.
Only a short time later, Maher secured her second try with a huge run over twenty down the middle of the field. With 11 minutes left in the frame, the sophomore
ran over multiple Cadets for the long try off an assist from sophomore Flora Poole (Christchurch, New Zealand).
Poole was right in the middle of the action about three minutes later, leading to the Bobcats fourth score of the half. The New Zealand native broke free for her second run over twenty, about 50 yards down the field as she juked a defender and dished to Myles on her left side as she was being tackled by the opposition. Myles gave Quinnipiac a 24-12 lead heading into the break with her second score.
Similar to the Cadets in the first half, the Bobcats quickly got the scoring started in the second. Less than two minutes into the final frame, Norwich found themselves backed up in the Quinnipiac scoring area. As a Cadet tried to kick the ball down field, Myles broke through the line to block the kick. Senior Jennifer Fremd (Oak Harbor, Washington) recovered the ball in the try area to push the Bobcat lead to 29-12.
With 21 minutes remaining in regulation, Norwich scored their first try of the second half to cut the QU advantage back to 12. Just moments later, the Cadets again threatened to chip away at the deficit, but the Bobcats made a huge stop and took over possession of the ball.
The next 15 minutes of action consisted of strong defensive stands as both sides recorded multiple steals. With the ball deep in their territory, Poole broke through a congested defense for her first score of the semifinal. Gegeckas' successful conversion gave Quinnipiac a 36-17 lead.
Norwich scored one last late try with a minute to go for a final score of 36-22 in favor of the top seed. The title game is set to take place on Sunday, November 22 at 1 p.m. from Brown University.
(Photo courtesy of Donna Doherty)
Players Mentioned
Lock
/ Women's Rugby
Hooker
/ Women's Rugby
Forward
/ Women's Rugby
Fly Half
/ Women's Rugby
Flank
/ Women's Rugby
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