ALFRED, NY -- The Alfred University women's rugby team played in its first home match at their new field atop Saxon Hill, rolling to a 53-32 win over SUNY Geneseo on Friday night.
"Words can't describe what a historic feat this match was. Every player stepped up and played lights out," Head Coach
Dr. Nicole Bernsen said. "We had so much heart playing and unseeding a team that's been historically ranked nationally. We're proud to bring home the first win at Saxon Hill!"
AU (2-0, 2-0 UNYCRC) opened the scoring behind
Ava Webber (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) rumbling into the try zone.
Samantha Stock (Ellicottville, NY/Ellicottville Central) and
Ellie Prestridge (Bethel, VT/White River Valley) traded trys to run up the score to 24-0 before Geneseo responded. Prestridge converted twice in the first half to add on to the score.
The junior captain continued to impress for the Saxons, scoring three of the next four trys with Stock getting another try to open the second half of action. AU wrapped up the scoring with
Zia Oellig (Colorado Springs, CO/Fountain Valley School of Colorado) scoring her second try in as many games to put an exclamation point on an unforgettable evening for the program.
In the end, Prestridge finished with four trys and four conversions to go along with it. Stock added on with three trys with Webber and Oellig nabbing one apiece. Across the board, AU opened their new facility in historic fashion with the second-most points scored in program history to keep its undefeated streak to start the season going.
They'll put that record to the test next on the road against Nazareth University on October 4.
-- Swords Forward Saxons --