LEWISTON, NY – The Alfred University women's rugby 7s team competed in Fox 7s tournament on Sunday. AU went 1-4 on the day. 
 

The Saxons opened the day with a narrow 10-5 loss to Clarkson University, with Ellie Prestridge (Bethel, VT, White River Valley) delivering a try. Samantha Stock (Ellicottville, NY, Ellicottville Central) ran hard up the left sideline off a kickoff and moved it right down the field to Zia Oellig (Colorado Springs, CO, Fountain Valley School of Colorado) on the wing. Oellig was tackled just short of the try line. After having the ball poached, Prestridge poached it right back for the Saxons to score.  

"We played three tough teams today and had a good showing," Head Coach Nicole Bernsen said. "Though we lost, we were within a try against the two teams that were at CRC's last year and our third match was against the team that ended the final today. I'm really proud of the growth we've continued to show all season. Thank you to Dani for her leadership and deadicaion these past three years!"
 

In the following match against defending champions Baldwin Wallace University, Alyssa Ainsworth (Vestal, NY, Corning-Painted Post) set the tone early. After a penalty, she delivered a well-placed pass to Aurora Berry (Perry, NY, Perry), who broke through a gap in the defense. The play continued as Prestridge moved the ball forward to Oellig, who made a strong run down the left sideline and crossed into the center of the try zone. Ainsworth successfully added the conversion to give AU a 7-0 lead. 

Later in the match, the Saxons extended their advantage to 12-0. Following a turnover won by Oellig and a weak side run from Prestridge, the ball passed through the line and passed to Berry, who finished the play with a try along the far-right sideline. 
 

Despite the early surge from AU, the Yellow Jackets were able to notch a comeback effort to win the match 17-12.  
 

In the third game against Nazareth University, Ainsworth took the ball off a scrum and later off a ruck to score a try for the Saxons after facing a 17-0 deficit. The Golden Flyers answered with two more tries and a conversion to pull away 29-5.  
 

The Saxons final match resulted in a forfeit win over RIT.  
 

Ainsworth finished the day with a try and a conversion while Prestridge, Oellig, and Berry each combined for three tries. 
 

Alfred University next waits for an at large bid to the Collegiate Rugby championship.  

 
 

--Swords Forward Saxons--