#11 Women’s Rugby advances to Regional Final Four for 5th consecutive year with Elite 8 victory over Fredonia State
In an eerily familiar repeat of last year, The Women’s Rugby team (8-1) again rebounded from a New England title loss to Norwich University to defeat Fredonia State in and Elite 8 match-up Saturday on the Rec Fields.
Senior Ashley George got the scoring underway for the home side as she burst through the defense on a slashing 40 meter run and Senior Laura Fischer would convert the 8th minute score. Junior Shannon Clancy scored the first of her two tries on the day, catching a nice back line feed and breaking loose for an unconverted score. 5 minutes later it would be Clancy again, this time diving into the corner for another unconverted score and a 17-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining in the half. George again broke free for her second try of the day at the 28th minute mark, with Fischer’s conversion making the lead 24-0. Fischer herself looped outside for a corner try in the dying minutes of the first half, and at the break the ladies were up 29-0.
The second half was a tight battle as the team from Western New York was not ready to go quietly, and 8 minutes in they cut into the lead with an unconverted score. Senior Kate O’Malley restored the lead however moments later, racing free from 30 meters out to score under the post. Fischer’s conversion pushed the lead to a comfortable 36-5 with 25 minutes remaining and Fredonia would get the last converted score with 6 minutes remaining for the 36-12 final.
“I am very proud of this team,” commented Coach Derek Jenesky after the game, “To be a small school playing against DI schools and varsity teams it is such a tribute to the ladies to make it to the DII Regional Final Four three straight years.
The ladies will take on Boston University at 10am in Brunswick Maine on Saturday November 13th in a rematch of the New England Semi-Final game won by Stonehill 36-10.