Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ashley Hess Nina Safane '09 turned in a strong effort at flanker to help the women's rugby team to two NCAA tournament wins over the weekend.

A week after destroying its Ivy League competition, winning the Ivy League title by a combined 145-0 over three matches, the women's rugby team excelled again at the next level. The Bears won both their matches at the NCAA National Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., last weekend, taking down West Chester University, 50-12, and then pulling out a victory over a tough UC Davis team with a late try, 17-12.

Brown, out of the New England Rugby Football Union, was the No. 5 seed and drew the 12th-seeded Golden Rams in the first round on Friday.

West Chester, a "well-funded varsity program" according to Head Coach Kerri Heffernan, was larger than Bruno and tried to bully Brown behind its large pack, but the Bears were able to play just as physically.

"In New Mexico, we had to deal with very large teams," Heffernan wrote in an e-mail. "I think we consistently surprise teams with just how strong we are... We are small but powerful, just blowing large packs off the ball."

In addition to matching West Chester up front, the Bruno backline used its superior speed on the outside to attack the defense. Though West Chester drew first blood, Brown rattled off five straight tries, including two from wing Blaine Martin '11, to go into halftime up 29-5.

"They scored in the first five minutes, but we didn't for a second think that we couldn't turn around and control the game, which is exactly what we did," forwards captain Keisha Carlson '08 wrote in an e-mail.

Once the Brown forwards absorbed the West Chester pack's punishment, the Bruno backs went to work.

"Whitney Brown ('08.5), our flyhalf, did an excellent job mixing up the plays and exploiting the gaps on the outside of the West Chester defense," backs captain Yadi Ibarra '09 wrote in an e-mail. "Most of our points came from beating their backs on the outside play."

After halftime, it was more Bruno as star center Emilie Bydwell '08 had her second try of the game. Brown was up 43-5 before West Chester managed to string together a few successful phases and break through for a try.

Though Brown walked away with a decisive win, 50-12, on the scoreboard, it was a physically grueling match for Bruno, who had to turn around to play again the next day.

Continued...

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