#11 Women’s Rugby dismisses Coast Guard in battle of unbeatens

Knowing it would be their toughest test of the season, the #11 nationally ranked Women’s Rugby team (4-0) traveled to Connecticut with expectations of an extremely tough battle against the Coast Guard Academy (2-1-1). 

Senior captain Ashley George got the team on the board 9 minutes into the game.  After some great recycling by both forwards and backs, George would break through the defense from 12 meters out.  Senior Laura Fischer converted the score, and ten minutes later she added a penalty goal from 20 meters out giving the ladies a 10-0 lead.  The last 15 minutes if the first half saw Stonehill lose some focus, resulting in the Coast Guard rallying back, scoring a converted try on the last play of the first half to close the gap to 10-7.

The second half was one of the Purple and Blacks best of the season, as their unrelenting pressure turned the close game into a blowout.  Senior Madeleine Schissel, returning from a first half injury, barreled over for an unconverted try and a 15-7 lead with 30 minutes remaining.  Outstanding backline passing led to Junior Shannon Clancy notching her first ever try 8 minutes later, giving the visitors some badly needed breathing room at 20-7.  15 minutes from full time, Senior Katie O’Malley would take a feed from Fischer and break free for a 60 meter try with Fischer converting from directly in front of the post for a 20 point lead.  The ladies got one more try from O’Malley, as the senior deftly stepped in front of a backline pass and race 40 meters with the interception.  Fischer again would slot the conversion for the 34-7 lead.  Coast Guard fought gamely to the end however, and on the final play of the game scored a corner try for the 34-12 final score.  “It was an outstanding second half for us,” raved Coach Derek jenesky, “Against a very tough opponent we held possession most of the second half and never really allowed them to get anything going offensively.”

The Ladies next game is “Senior Day” and is scheduled for next Saturday, October 16, at 10am.  It is the final home game for the senior class who has gone 39-4 over the last four years.