ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's rugby team (1-1, 1-1 NIRA) lost its first game of the season to National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) powerhouse Dartmouth (2-0, 2-0 NIRA), 52-7, on Saturday in Annapolis. The Big Green is coming off an appearance in the NIRA National Championship a year ago.
 
"I thought the girls played really good rugby. They were fighting from the first minute to the 80th," said head coach Murph McCarthy. "Dartmouth is a very strong team. They've been the runner-up in the conference for two-straight seasons and went undefeated in the regular season last year. I felt like we played them very tight. I'm very proud of the way the girls played today."
 
The Big Green opened the game on a high note as they ran in three tries in the first 15 minutes to build a 19-0 lead. Annie Heinrich was a factor in all three scores as she scored nine points with two tries and an assist.
 
Navy's defense settled in and held Dartmouth scoreless for the remainder of the first half. Offensively, the Mids struggled to maintain possession on Dartmouth's side of the field until the 30th minute, when they forced a turnover and Arica Spencer punched in the first try of her career. Meagan Alvarez scored in the second-straight game with a conversion to cut the deficit to 12 (19-7) heading into halftime.
 
The second half was all Dartmouth, as the Big Green added five more tries and converted four of five conversion attempts while holding Navy scoreless.
 
Up Next
Navy travels to St. Charles, Mo., to take on Lindenwood next Saturday at 11 a.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. ET
 
Box Score
3:48 – Try – Dartmouth – Katelyn Walker (0-5)
Conversion kick – Annie Henrich (0-7)
 
10:18 – Try – Dartmouth – Annie Henrich (0-12)
 
13:57 – Try – Dartmouth – Paola Arredondo Almeids (0-17)
Conversion kick – Annie Henrich (0-19)
 
29:40 – Try – Navy – Arica Spencer (5-19)
Conversion kick – Meagan Alvarez (7-19)
 
49:20 – Try – Dartmouth – Cindy Taulava (7-24)
Conversion kick – Hehea Pulotu (7-26)
 
55:48 – Try – Dartmouth – Jordynn LeBeau (7-31)
 
63:17 – Try – Dartmouth - Marley Larkin (7-36)
Conversion kick – Arielle Fotso (7-38)
 
66:57 – Try – Dartmouth – Paoloa Arredondo Almeida (7-43)
Conversion kick – Arielle Fotso (7-45)
 
80:00 – Try – Dartmouth – Sierra Santiago (7-50)
Conversion kick – Arielle Fotso (7-52)