ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Quinnipiac (4-2, 3-2 National Intercollegiate Rugby Association) put together a strong second half to defeat the Navy women's rugby team (3-3, 3-3 NIRA), 29-10, Saturday afternoon at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis.  The Bobcats outscored the Mids 21-5 in the second half.
 
"Our defense showed strength at key moments and I'm proud of how we battled as a team, especially playing down a player due to yellow cards," said Navy head coach Murph McCarthy. "Quinnipiac is a strong opponent and we can't afford to be down two yellow cards against a team of that caliber. We came in aiming for a win, but this group is improving every week and we're closing the gap quickly."
 
After a balanced first 10 minutes in the game, Quinnipiac broke the stalemate in the 12th minute with a successful penalty kick from Gillian Mason following an infraction by the Mids inside the 22-meter zone. Navy answered six minutes later when Ella Callahan capped a clean lineout-to-maul sequence for her fourth try of the season to give the Mids a 5-3 edge.
 
A handling error on the restart gave the Bobcats favorable field position, which allowed Gabrielle Appiah to power in a try in the 30th minute to regain the lead for Quinnipiac at 8-5. Neither team was able to add points in the final 10 minutes of the half, which included Navy's Kyndall Wyngaard recording a key tackle to keep the Bobcats out of the try zone to end the half.
 
Navy opened the second half with strong defensive stands, including a lineout steal inside its own 5-meter line, but momentum swung sharply after a yellow card was issued to Keira Cole in the 46th minute. Quinnipiac immediately capitalized on the man-up advantage as Lucy Lamborn crossed the try line one minute later. Alexa Kirschner's conversion kick made the score 15-5.
 
Quinnipiac maintained control through much of the second half and added another try from Layla Cox in the 58th minute. Kirschner remained perfect from the tee with another conversion to extend the lead to 22-5.
 
Navy showed grit late in the game when it mounted a long attack deep inside Quinnipiac's 5-meter zone. Caroline Shegogue found space and ran in her team-leading fifth try of the season in the 70th minute to trim the Bobcats' lead to 22-10.
 
Quinnipiac continued its dominance over the remainder of the half and sealed the game with a final try from Cox in the 78th minute. Kirschner added her third successful conversion to close out the scoring.
 
Up Next
Navy will take to the road to play at Wheeling Friday in the first non-conference game of the season for the Mids. The game against the Cardinals is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Wheeling, W. Va.
 
Box Score
11:40 – Penalty kick – Quinnipiac – Gillian Mason (0-3)
 
17:46 – Try – Navy – Ella Callahan (5-3)
 
29:44 – Try – Quinnipiac – Gabrielle Appiah (5-8)
 
45:13 – Try – Quinnipiac – Lucy Lamborn (5-13)
Conversion kick – Alexa Kirschner (5-15)
 
57:51 – Try – Quinnipiac – Layla Cox (5-20)
Conversion kick – Alexa Kirschner (5-22)
 
69:22 – Try – Navy – Caroline Shegogue (10-22)
 
77:47 – Try – Quinnipiac – Layla Cox (10-27)
Conversion kick – Alexa Kirschner (10-29)