September 2, 2017
Quinnipiac Earns Win Over Army West Point Women’s Rugby to Open New Facility
Photo: Logos Quinnipiac Bobcats & Army West Point Women’s Rugby
Doug Coil
Two time defending national champion Quinnipiac women’s rugby team opened their 2017 season with a 42-22 victory over Army West Point at their new field on the Mount Carmel campus in Hamden, Connecticut. Both Mikah Maples and Ilona Maher had hat trick on the day.
Quinnipiac took an early 5-0 lead in as Mikah Maples scored a try from the wide channel. Army answered back six minutes later with a try by Jill Botterini, which was converted by Bayleigh Gable to take a 7-5 lead.
The Bobcats then exploded for four tries before a Bayleigh Gable penalty kick just prior to the break for a 25-7 lead. The tries were scored by Ilona Maher as she barreled over the line in the 22nd minute. Then Tayler Schussler went in from a breakdown in the 29th minute. In the 33rd and 37th minutes two tries were scored by Mikah Maples from offloads by Flora Poole.
Quinipiac’s momentum in the second half as Rebecca Haight scored a try from a breakdown in the 44th minute after an assist by Maher.
Army then attacked deep inside the Bobcats territory, but the defense held. It was then the Bobcats turn as they added two trees by Ilona Maher in the 61st and 65th minutes, with the first converted for a 42-10 lead.
Army’s Bayleigh Gable added a try and a conversion in the 70th minute and another try in the 80th minute to narrow the final score to 42-22.
Next week, Quinnipiac will travel to play Dartmouth on Saturday in Hanover, New Hampshire with the kickoff at 1:00 PM.
The Black Knights continue NIRA play on Sept. 8, hosting American International at the Anderson Rugby Complex.
