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Hunter Martin

Women Fall to Cortland in Regional Championship

12/19/2016 5:06:00 PM

written by: Kim Kasnic

With a short two-week break, the Neumann Women's Rugby team was ready to get back on the road and have a shot at getting a chance to play nationally. After a tough loss to Mount St. Mary's in the EPRU Tier I championships, the Knights were still in the game and would be going to play in Ohio in the NSCRO Central Regional Championships. This was something that the team had been working hard towards all season, and they could not wait to show everyone what they were made of. Making it to the regional championships meant that Neumann was one of only 16 small college teams in the nation that had an opportunity to play for a National Championship.

After a long, but spirited bus ride to Denison, Ohio, the NUWR team would stay for the weekend where they would play their first opponent, the Denison Women's Rugby team on Saturday. It was a beautiful day for a match and both teams were eager to play one another. The Denison Women's rugby team had been seeded number one in the Central Regional Championships and was the 6th ranked small college team in the nation. Neumann came in as the fourth seed in the region. During the first half of the match Denison would dominate, their offense proving to be fast and powerful. Penalties against Neumann would be their weakness, allowing Denison to take the lead by the end of the first half. However, the persistence and determination of the Knights would come back in full force during the second half. Ball movement between the backs would improve, allowing Neumann to come away with a hard-fought, nail-biting 35-29 win against Denison!

With their win against Denison, Neumann would battle SUNY Cortland for the Central Regional Championship title! Despite an extremely hard fought match the previous day, Neumann would come out ready to play. Unfortunately, the speed and aggressiveness of Cortland would prove to be overpowering. Neumann fell behind in the first half and Cortland would extend their lead in the second for the victory. However, both teams would come together after the match to celebrate their achievements and receive awards and recognition for their victories! Senior Becky Burns would receive the award of "Women of the Match" from the other team for her aggressive play and hard work.

The regional qualifier was the first in the club's history and the team is eager to get back on the field this spring. 
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