The start of the spring tournament swing for the Women’s Rugby team officially kicked off this past weekend in Islip, NY for the Ultimate Spring Rugby Classic. The long and tedious drive to the tourney wore out the lady ruggers on Saturday for their “supposed” 9:20 a.m game, which didn’t get under way until 10:50 a.m.
The first match-up pitched PSC vs. the women from Stonybrook. The ladies were led into action by captains Tarsha Pageau and Maegan Roussin. If the first hit were any indication of the intensity of the match, Jess Marass would personify that. Her hard tackling and relentless pursue of Stonybrook runners helped hold the early 7-0 in Plymouth’s favor. The seven points came from a long series of hard rucks and crisp passing, and was finally pushed into the tri-zone by Adrienne Allaire from about one yard out. She “obviously” wanted the score and ended up with two for the weekend. The conversion was made by Jen “Nadz” Nedoroscik to make the 7-0 score. Right before the half, captain Maegan Roussin was punched in the back causing a ruckus that carried over into the second half. Stonybrook came back forcefully in the second half and racked up the final twelve points and the victory.
After the early morning loss the women were bounced into the losers bracket with no way out. Their next match was three hours later vs. a weak and pathetic Western Connecticut team. The game was dominated by the forwards and their powerful scrum led by Liz Cheney, Pageau, and the “diesel” Kate Rohr. The scoring started off by a “straight up” tri by Meaghan Callahan. eight-man Jenn Sinacore and scrumhalf Molly Moulton formed a 1-2 combo that lead to two try’s a piece and seven for the tourney between them. The highlight of the game came when Ashley Hokanson ran for a 90- meter-tri, electrifying the crowd off the always reliable “twelve”. Chrissy Bickford played loose play exceptionally with her great rucks, soft hands, and one hard tackle against the towering Western Connecticut prop. Laura Lassins’ support of the backs helped PSC dominate in the rucks, while Melissa Demaine danced her way around the rucks gracefully. In the end Plymouth routed Western Connecticut 43-0.
The final game of the weekend came against an inexperienced SUNY-Oneonta team. Yet again dominance by the forwards would prevail. Kate Fuller, normally a back line player, played flanker like a pro and even got her first A-side tri. Sinacore, Bickford, and Allaire all came away with try’s set up by the brilliant kicking and chasing of flyhalf Maegan Roussin. Scrum captain Tarsha Pageau followed with intense support. Wings Kelly Peckham and Kori Armiento ran strong and always gave the women great field position. Andrea Clarke clawed her way into the game after the half because of her cat like speed and reflexes. Renee, Jenny Elliot, and Annabelle added some needed speed on the field. Score: PSC 41-Oneonta 0.
Overall the Plymouth State Women’s Rugby team played a great weekend of rugby despite all of their sunburns. Next stop, the Beast of the East Tournament in Portsmouth, RI.