GREENWOOD, S.C. - The Navy women's rugby team (0-1) fell in its season opener against Queens University of Charlotte (1-0), 27-18, on Saturday in Greenwood, S.C.
 
The opening kickoff from the Mids didn't travel 10 meters and awarded the Royals a scrum at midfield. Queens used a pair of big carries to move the ball inside its offensive 22-meter zone and was granted a penalty kick after an infraction against Navy. The Royals made the kick to take an early 3-0 lead in the third minute.
 
Queens quickly returned to its offensive zone following the kickoff, but a knock-on penalty gifted Navy a scrum just outside its defensive 22-meter line. The Royals pushed the scrum back and forced the Mids into a penalty. Queens opted to kick for points after the scrum penalty, but the attempt went off the uprights. The Mids picked up the live ball, but were tackled in the try zone to award a scrum to the Royals at the five-meter line. Navy forced the ball out of bounds during Queens' attack to take back possession with a lineout. The Mids turned the ball over on the throw-in attempt and the Royals struck for the first try of the match in the 11th minute to go ahead, 8-0.
 
Queens kept the ball in its offensive zone over the next 10 minutes, but Navy continued to stand strong and now allow any big runs. The Mids used their kicking game to flip the field just before the 25-minute mark. Queens won the lineout, but gave the ball right back to Navy on a knock-on penalty. A penalty against the Royals in the 27th minute granted a penalty kick to the Mids. Abby Hershner made the kick from the 22-meter line to trim Navy's deficit to five points.
 
The Mids used an effective attack after the penalty kick to control possession in their offensive zone for the remainder of the first half. Queens was penalized for not rolling away on a tackle, which allowed Navy to attempt its second penalty kick in the 38th minute. Hershner again nailed the kick to make the score 8-6 at halftime.
 
Navy received the ball to begin the second half, but Queens used an aggressive defensive attack to push the ball back to the five-meter line. The Royals forced a turnover and quickly ran the ball into the try zone in the 43rd minute. A made conversion kick gave Queens a 15-6 lead.
 
The Royals maintained control of the pitch for the next 10 minutes and stole the ball during a Navy ruck to gain possession at the 22-meter line. A penalty against Navy gifted a free kick to Queens. The Royals kicked it out of bounds near the five-meter line to earn a lineout. Queens formed a maul after gathering the lineout and easily powered itself into the try zone in the 54th minute to take a 14-point lead.
 
The Mids were able to respond quickly thanks to penalties against the Royals. The Mids stayed patient with their attack and slowly moved inside the five-meter line. Navy went wide with an attack to the left sideline and team captain Charlotte D'Halluin scored Navy's first try of the season in the 59th minute to cut Queens' lead to nine.
 
D'Halluin found the try zone again with a similar attack in the 72nd minute and Hershner made her first conversion kick of the match to make the score, 20-18, with under seven minutes remaining.
 
The Mids moved the ball past the 10-meter line in its offensive zone, but a costly turnover gave possession back to the Royals. Queens quickly counter-attacked and used a carry of over 30 meters to score a try in the 75th minute for the final score of the match.
 
D'Halluin led the Mids in scoring with 10 points on two tries. Hershner scored Navy's additional eight points on two penalty kicks and a conversion kick.
 
Women's rugby will play in Annapolis for the first time this season next Saturday against West Chester. Kickoff against the Golden Rams is scheduled for noon at the Prusmack Rugby Center.
 
Box Score
First Half
3:00 - Penalty Kick - Queens (0-3)
 
11:19 - Try - Queens (0-8)
 
27:38 - Penalty Kick - Navy - Abby Hershner (3-8)
 
38:23 - Penalty Kick - Navy - Abby Hershner (6-8)
 
Second Half
43:00 - Try - Queens (6-13)
Conversion Kick - Queens (6-15)
 
54:00 - Try - Queens (6-20)
 
59:00 - Try - Navy - Charlotte D'Halluin (11-20)
 
72:35 - Try - Navy - Charlotte D'Halluin (16-20)
Conversion Kick - Abby Hershner (18-20)
 
75:00 - Try - Queens (18-27)