Women's Rugby | 9/24/2019 1:55:00 PM

Clarion, PA- Women's Rugby hit the road to start the season for a 3 match series against Clarion. Much like the Men's Rugby team, Women's Rugby plays well on the road. Despite the surprisingly hot temperatures, RMU swept the three game series against Clarion with a 19-15 win, a 10-5 win, and a 15-5 win. Women's Rugby plays in the Allegheny Rugby Union 7s League. This means each time the women face an opponent they play three separate matches. Each match has two 7 minute halves with a 2 minute half time, and about 5 minutes in between each game.

Game 1

The first match kicked off at 12:00pm, and it only took until 12:01 to break the scoreless tie. Bri Allen scored a try in the 1st minute of play to give RMU an early lead. Allen got right back to work as well, putting home another try in the 3rd minute of play launching RMU to a quick double digit lead. Then in the 5th minute, Syd Spuzzillo scored a try in her debut match to extend the Colonials lead. Team President Corenne Burrows capitalized on her conversion kicks, sinking 2 of the 3 and giving the Colonials a 19-0 lead at halftime.  

Clarion would push back hard in the second half, scoring three tries before the end of the game. However, they could not make any conversion kicks. While the finish wasn't perfect, RMU did what they needed to do in order to preserve the win. The first match saw RMU victorious over Clarion 19-15.  The second game of the series would begin minutes later.

Game 2 

The second game was not as quick of a start for RMU, but they still made some big plays in the first half. Madelyn Bashore opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a long run down the field that ended just short of the line. She was able to retain possession and punched it in from 5 yards out. Morgan Schneider then doubled up the Colonials lead just before the half ended to make it 10-0. Schneider scored her first career try with the effort. 

Similarly to the first game RMU took a commanding lead into the half. And similarly to Game 1, Clarion got going in the 2nd half but it wouldn't be enough. Clarion scored one try in the second half, but that's all that would happen as RMU won 10-5. RMU went up 2-0 on the weekend and had a chance for the sweep in the third game.

Game 3

Despite Game 3 having the largest margin of victory on the weekend, it was the only match RMU was not leading at the half. Clarion scored a try in the first half for the first time all day. Thanks to North Pitt United alum Anastasia Heinold scoring her first collegiate try for RMU, the game was tied at 5-5 entering the half.

As time began winding down in the second half, it appeared the two teams were destined to stay at 5 each, until the 12th minute when Bri Allen scored a try in the far corner to give RMU the lead. Corenne Burrows literally ran over several defenders for her first try of the season in the 13th minute to seal the deal. The Colonials wrapped up Game 3 with a solid 15-5 win thanks to some late heroics. 

Up Next: Women's Rugby will have their home opener against Grove City College on Friday, September 27th. First match kicks off at 7:00pm, and it will be like this weekend where it is a 3 game series.

Alexander Gagnon '21
Club Sport Information Director