CASTLETON, Vt. – The Long Island University women's rugby team earned its first win of the fall on Saturday, Oct. 20 when it defeated Castleton University by a 112-22 final.
 
The Sharks and Spartans played 10s rugby with 10 players on either side and 10-minute halves. The two sides played three games on the day, with LIU winning each segment by 41-5, 34-5, and 27-12 margins.
 
Sophomore Maquisha Gillet led LIU with five tries on the day, while freshman Lynsey Danko added four tries. Senior Caitlin Johnstone, and freshmen Sara-Grace McCannon and Nakoya Hayes each added two scores. Freshman Haniyah Baugh had five successful conversions for LIU.
 
In the day's opening contest, Gillet recorded two tries during the opening half and Danko added a third on the final play of the half to give LIU a 17-0 lead. Early in the second half, Gillet scored her third try of the day before Mariah Jollie got the Spartans on the board with a try at the 5:05 mark. LIU added three more tries to close out the half to earn the 41-5 victory.
 
During the middle contest, it was all LIU once again as the Sharks jumped out to a 29-0 lead with 7:38 remaining in the second half. Jollie once again put the Spartans on the board but it was not enough as LIU rolled to a 34-5 win.
 
It was the Spartans who took an early lead in the final match of the day, taking a 7-0 lead at the 6:33 mark of the first half. Dano and McCannon added two tries during the final 93 seconds of the half to give LIU a 12-7 lead at halftime. Just 46 seconds into the second half, Johnstone scored her second try of the afternoon, sparking a 15-0 run for the Sharks. Castleston scored the final try of the day to make it a 15-point game, though the Sharks held on for a sweep of the Spartans.
 
LIU continues its fall season on Saturday, Oct. 26 when it hosts West Chester University at Robert Blitz Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.