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WR - 17 Fall

2017 Fall Recap

11/21/2017 1:18:00 PM

written by: Kim Kasnic

After having lost a number of players as a result of graduation at the end of the 2017 spring season, the Fall set up as a challenging season for the Neumann Women's Rugby team. Recruiting would be crucial in keeping the team afloat and allowing them to be able to play. Essentially, the team would be starting off fresh, with only seven players from the past season returning. This season would be all about teaching and building the team for the next year when five of the returning players would graduate. However, the Lady Knights took this challenge head on and were able to recruit a variety of girls to the team, inciting excitement and fire within ranks.

Despite their recruiting efforts, the Neumann team would still be short in numbers, but this did not stop them from continuing practice and going on to compete in matches. The first game of the season would have the team traveling up to Ursinus, where they would have to play down two players. During the match, Ursinus would lend Neumann two players to utilize, however later on Neumann would end up losing two more players to injury, resulting in them playing down. Sharae Frazier scored the first try of the season, putting Neumann ahead initially. Kim Kasnic, Ronnie Berry, and Johneisha Kilson would go on to score try's themselves, with Lyssa Halwey having a few successful conversion kicks. However, this would not be enough to push Neumann forward, and they would fall to Ursinus 43-29.

After a cancellation of a match with Swarthmore, Neumann hosted Widener University. Unfortunately, the Knights again had to play down a number of players. This would not stop Neumann from competing. Players were moved to different positions and teammates stepped up to score tries and ruck through girls. In the first half and despite playing down, Neumann would hold possession of the ball a majority of the time, putting them barley behind Widener. In the second half, Widener's forwards proved to be a force to be reckoned with and they would push Widener to victory, 43-31. Still, a decent score considering the Knights played down.

Before the EPRU Tier II Championships, Neumann wanted to get in some extra practice and would travel north to play against Whitehorse, a team that they have played against numerous times and that always presented a welcomed challenge. Neumann would team up with another women's team to play against Whitehorse. This allowed Neufredrick, as the combined side was playfully called, to play full strength. The Knights would go on to stop Whitehorse's backs and take down their forwards, preventing them from scoring a number of tries. Neumann fought back with their own tries, but the game would have to end early due to several injuries.

Finally, there came the day for which the Knights had been waiting. The EPRU Tier II Championships were here and the team was gearing up to play. Since the majority of teams were low in numbers, each team would match the other team's numbers, giving each team a fair chance. Each team would play three games before they would be seeded, and then they would go on to play in the Championships if they won their respected matches. Neumann's first game would be against Lehigh, and with a full-strength team Neumann would go on to dominate the game. The forwards used the inexperience of Lehigh to their advantage and allowed them to win their first match of the season. Their next match would be after an hour and a half break against Juniata. Neumann again proved victorious following a decisive win. The final match before the seeding would be against Lafayette, Neumann's toughest challenge of the game. Coming down to a final try in the last few minutes of the match, Neumann would win and put them at the top seed.

By being top seed, Neumann would go against the lowest seed, Susquehanna. After another dominating win, Neumann would have a very short break before their match with Lafayette. Lafayette came to Neumann after having won their game against DeSales. Lafayette was raring to go after their loss in the beginning of the day and fought hard against Neumann. Their backs would dominate the game, breaking away and scoring try's. Neumann battled back and got last-minute tackles preventing these try's. However, Neumann ended up taking the championship loss. Regardless, and despite all of the unfortunate circumstances and tough losses throughout the season, the Knights came back in the EPRU Tier II Championships and would win a number of games before coming in 2nd in the Championships. They proved that they are a team that should never be counted out. ?
 
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