#4 nationally ranked women's rugby falls in New England play for the first time in 4 years

Losing to Shippensburg in last year's  National title game broke a 39 game unbeaten streak for the little school from Easton Mass,  today's loss in the New England championship, broke another streak for the Stonehill College Women's Rugby team (7-1).  For the first time in four seasons, the ladies were defeated in a New England rugby game, bowing out to nationally #1 ranked Norwich University (8-0) in the New England Championship game 43-16.  "we just ran into a buzz saw today, "commented Head Coach Derek Jenesky after the game, "That is the best team we have seen since Ship last year, and must be the best team in the country at this point."

The underdog defending champions jumped out quickly on the team from Vermont, and 6 minutes in, Junior Fly-half Katie O'Malley (Tournament most outstanding back), drilled a penalty from 20 meters away for a 3-0 lead.  Playing like the #1 ranked team in the nation, Norwich quickly hit back with some aggressive play, scoring twice for a 12-3 lead, but O'Malley would again reply with another penalty, closing the gap to six.  The teams' would trade trys, Stonehill's an unconverted score by Junior Ashley George, but then, nearing the end of the half Norwich would punch one more through for a 24-11 lead after an entertaining first half.  "Last year in the semi-finals we trailed Norwich 19-7 at the half before rallying to victory, so we felt like we were in an eerily similar position as last year, we just needed some defensive stops," added Jenesky.

Ten minutes into the half, the ladies scored their prettiest try of the year as the forwards recycled the ball off of two nice phases, leading to a nice backline overload, and Junior wing Deborah Caruso touching the ball down in the corner to cut the deficit to 24-16.  That's where the dream would end however, as Norwich turned up the offensive pressure and began to find overloads with the backs, and holes in the tiring forward corps.  The final thirty minutes was all Norwich as they would score 3 tries, two converted for a 43-16 final score.  "I loved the fight in the team today, we just ran into a much better squad.  Hopefully we will see them again down the road," added Jenesky.

The ladies will hose Fredonia State University in a Regional crossover game on Saturday at 12noon on the Rec Fields.