PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The LIU women's rugby team hit the road again for the second match weekend of the fall season and fell to Brown, 34-19.

With the remnants of Hurricane Ian transforming Marvel Field to a bog, the Sharks waded through thick mud — conditions that tend to favor bigger sides such as Brown.

The work of building out the player pool continued this week, with coach Joseph Rasmus Jr. blooding two new players: Tai Sherman and walk-on Sophia Crowley.

Despite adverse conditions, LIU found an early foothold through brutal, aggressive defense and technical accuracy. While the Sharks had one or two early shots in attack from strong individual efforts, the women in blue struggled to adapt to the sloppy conditions and failed to find continuity.

Fortunately, LIU's defense limited the impacts of attacking errors. The Sharks launched well together to pressure Brown ball carriers. Through consistently dominant tackles, Alexis Dallas, Jade Robinson and Sayler Russell denied the midfield attacking platform that Brown craved.

With neither team finding an advantage in attack, the first big moment of the game came when D'Ondra Bomar had a brief lapse in judgement and committed a professional foul. Bomar was sanctioned with a yellow card, giving Brown a 10-minute man advantage and a lineout deep in LIU territory.

The Sharks stole the ensuing lineout and had an opportunity to relieve pressure. But still looking to play too much rugby for the conditions, the LIU attack was frantic and disjointed. Kate Ryan was isolated from support, allowing a Brown lock to strip the ball in the tackle and walk in for an easy try. Brown failed to convert but held an early 5-0 advantage. 

The Sharks got through the remainder of the yellow card without conceding again.

Shortly after returning to full strength, Brown was awarded a midfield scrum on the 50. A well-worked move put the Bears around the edge of the LIU defense. Brown led, 10-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Dallas launched the ball long into the Brown 22. The Bears looked to exploit the edge again, but a ferocious tackle from Ryen Scott dropped the Brown prop cold and set up Emelie Granelli to jackal at the breakdown. With possession, LIU won a penalty and kicked to the corner to setup a lineout 20 meters from the line. Esme Heater took the ball cleanly in the air and set the platform for the driving maul. Granelli peeled off the back and was stopped inches short of the line.

Brown killed the attack by committing a penalty at the breakdown, but the Sharks smelled blood. LIU tapped and played a series of short phases through their forwards until Russell crashed over to give the Sharks their first score. Sophia Gaddis converted to close the deficit to 10-7. 

Over the next 10 minutes, loose possession gifted the Bears two easy turnover tries. With 33 minutes played, Brown grew their lead to 15-points. 

LIU kept in the fight and took advantage of Brown's lack of discipline to attack deep in the opposition half. Robinson went close to the line off a lineout move but was stopped just short without support. Brown attempted to relieve pressure but the Sharks stole back possession. Moments later, the territorial pressure paid off as Gaddis found space on the edge and crossed the line to cut the lead back to 10. 

The Sharks found a bit more composure in attack in the final 20 minutes, though tired legs created a few cracks in the stout LIU defense. Brown's big ball carriers finally started creating front-foot ball, which they converted into a 34-12 advantage.

The score line, fatigue and a late injury to Robinson threatened to sap morale, and Brown aimed to deliver a final blow. But a turnover-inducing tackle by Megan Burriesce reenergized the Sharks.

Russell advanced the ball 20 meters on the counterattack. The backs arrived quickly and in numbers to keep the momentum. The pressure induced a Brown penalty. LIU tapped and Russell carried within five meters of the line.

Then came the most composed attack of the day. Phase after phase, the Sharks hammered the Bears line. There was an air of inevitability when Granelli crashed over for a 5-pointer. Gaddis converted and the referee blew the full-time whistle. Brown escaped with the 34-19 win.

Despite the loss, LIU was in high spirits.

"Today felt like a heavyweight bout," Rasmus said. "We landed some haymakers. We scored some knockdowns. We went toe-to-toe with a physical, talented opponent until the final bell. The opponent pulled out a win on the judges' scorecard, but it's hard not to feel like we walked away with a ton of momentum.

"The last eight weeks, the team has been focusing on installing our platform skills and defensive structures. Technically and defensively, I think we were the better team today, which gives us a really exciting foundation to build on. We also feel we were physically dominant against a bigger, more experienced team and that will have confidence up going forward.

"Next week, we start our attack installs, and I am extremely excited for our development in that phase. This group is eager to learn and motivated. We've understandably been a bit frantic and inaccurate with the ball while our focus has been on other areas of our game. But this is a group with the capacity rapidly improve. I am extremely excited to get back to work on Monday."

On Friday, the Sharks make the short trip for a clash under the lights at West Point. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
LIU (AWAY)? 
Points (19): Gaddis (9); Granelli (5) Russell (5)
Tries (3): Gaddis; Granelli; Russell
Conversions (2 from 3): Gaddis (2 from 3)
Penalty Goals (0)? 
Drop Goals (0)? 
 
BROWN (HOME)? 
Points (34)
Tries (6)
Conversions (2 from 6)
Penalty Goals (0)
Drop Goals (0)