BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Long Island University women's rugby team hosted West Chester University on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Robert Blitz Field.
LIU saluted its two graduating seniors,
Janine Gelles and
Caitlin Johnstone, prior to the match. The contest was played 12-on-12 with three 20-minute matches. Due to National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) guidelines, the official score was listed as 28-0. Despite the official scoring, LIU won each of the three matches on the day, 12-5, 19-7, and 22-14.
Junior
Tatyanna Ogbue, sophomores
Brianna Thomas and
Maqueisha Gillet, and freshman
Sara-Grace McCannon all recorded two tries on the day, while freshman
Lynsey Danko added one try. Gilles tallied three conversions on the day and sophomore
Calah Turpin notched one conversion.
During the opening period, LIU opened the scoring with a try by Ogbue just over five minutes in. The Golden Rams leveled the scoring late in the half before the Sharks scored as time expired to take a 12-5 lead into the second half. The same score line remained as the Sharks took the opening match by the seven-point margin.
It was the Golden Rams taking an early 7-0 lead after a try and conversion during the first half before LIU got within two points on a try by Thomas with 20 seconds remaining in the period. The Sharks took a lead on Gillet's first try and Gelles made it a five-point advantage with a conversion at the 7:20 mark of the second half. Gillet added her second try moments later and Gelles again posted a successful conversion to give the Blue and Gold the 19-7 victory.
West Chester again grabbed an early lead with a try and conversion early in the first half. McCannon and Ogbue scored tries just before the end of the half to give the Sharks a 10-7 lead at the break. The scoring run continued during the second half as McCannon and Danko recorded tries to give LIU a 22-7 lead. The Golden Rams added a late score to cut into the deficit but LIU held on for the 22-14 win.
LIU will close out its fall schedule on Saturday, Nov. 2 when it travels to Rockville Centre for a matchup with Molloy College beginning at 9:00 a.m.
