Rutgers stuns Women's Rugby, on sloppy rainy day in Regional Semi's at Norwich, VT

Women's Rugby's hopes of a rematch against Norwich in the Regional final was dashed Saturday, as Rutgers University's stifling team defense and timely kicking derailed the ladies quest to become repeat champions.  Playing in a steady rain all day, Stonehill had the slight first half edge in territorial possession as both teams tested the others defenses.  Rutgers would break the deadlock twenty minutes in as mistakes led to the first points of the game, with Rutgers slotting a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead.  The ladies would take the lead back in the dying moments of the first half as junior flanker Ashley George would burst through the Rutgers defense from 5 meters out on a penalty play.  Junior Laura Fischer would convert the score and at the half the women led 7-3.

The second half was a repeat of the first half, with Rutgers breaking through again by capitalizing on poor play and mistakes by the ladies.  A mad scramble in the try zone after a dropped ball ended with a Rutgers player touching it down for a score to put the team from New Jersey in the lead at 8-7.  It was a lead they would never relinquish, as Stonehill could not mount much in the way of offense against the tough tackling and excellent team defense of Rutgers. 

I thought they handled the weather much better than us today," commented Coach Derek Jenesky, "We had far too many dropped balls and mental mistakes and it cost us dearly.  Our backs are now squarely against the wall and we will need a great team performance tomorrow to beat a well rested Radcliffe team."  A win in Sunday's consolation game will put the women into the national tournament in April, a loss and their season will be over.