BEREA, OH – The Alfred University women's rugby team had a successful day in its debut at the Powerful Women on the Pitch 7's Tournament on Sunday.
 
The Saxons (5-7) began the tournament by defeating the University of Rochester, 42-5. In its second match, AU secured a 25-15 win over Denison University. With these victories, the Saxons advanced to the semifinal, where they earned a 20-10 victory against Gannon University, to advance to their first 7's tournament final in program history. In the final, AU concluded the day with a 26-5 loss to last year's national runner-up, Baldwin Wallace University.
 
The team jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half of the opening match against the University of Rochester. Ava Webber (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) scored two tries during the run. After the University of Rochester scored, AU moved the ball through the line before Webber passed the ball to Ellie Prestridge (Bethel, VT/White River Valley), who extended the advantage, 22-5, at the half. The Saxons held the Sledgehammers scoreless while registering four consecutive tries in the second half. Aurora Berry (Perry, NY/Perry) scored two of those tries in the middle of the try zone.
 
Prestridge added two points on a conversion after AU's third try of the game.
 
During the second match against Denison University, Webber stole the ball off the kickoff and offloaded it to Prestridge, who took the ball to the corner for the team's first points. Webber later notched back-to-back tries to make it a 15-5 game. Zia Oellig (Colorado Springs, CO/Fountain Valley School of Colorado) squeaked by on the left sideline and dove in on the left corner to put the Saxons up, 20-10, at halftime. In the second half, Hailey Reome (Galway, NY/Galway) outran opposition on the left and scored in the middle to help AU close out with the win.
 
The Saxons played in the semifinal match against Gannon University. AU began with a 10-0 start thanks to tries from Webber and Prestridge. The Knights scored before the end of the first half and tied the game at 10-all at the start of the second. Berry ran up the sideline behind the back and offloaded the ball to Webber, who cut back into the center to break the tie. Webber later received the ball from Samantha Stock (Ellicottville, NY/Ellicottville Central) off the scrum and broke through the tackle to offload to Berry. Berry reversed and broke through the tackles before passing it back to Webber. Webber threw the ball to Oellig, who beat the opposition on the outside to score in the middle and help AU advance to the final.
 
Webber notched the lone try for the Saxons during the final against Baldwin Wallace University.
 
"We had an outstanding day today with dominant wins up to the championship game," Head Coach Dr. Nicole Bernsen said. "We got to go against the national runner-up from last year. It's exciting to see the team continuing to grow and excel while playing experienced and challenging teams."
 
AU will have two weeks off before playing its next tournament at the Fox 7's Tournament in Lewiston, New York, on Sunday, April 12.