Women's Rugby opens NIRA DII play with win over New Haven

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – In its first NIRA Division II matchup of the fall, the American International College women's rugby team scored early and often to defeat the University of New Haven 108-0 on Friday, September 15.

AIC is now 1-1 on the season and 1-0 in NIRA Division II matches.

Ivana Kiripati landed the first try of the game in the very first minute of play. That was a harbinger of things to come for the Yellow Jackets, who led 26-0 before the first 10 minutes were through thanks to two of the four tries Jessica Berggren would ultimately accumulate in the game, along with the first of two trie by SaTya Miller, a conversion by Venise Sanft, and two of the three conversions for the game that Ro'Elenoa Lagilagi kicked.

In total, AIC put down 15 tries in the contest, with seven conversions, to total the 108 points; Camryn Henderson was among the leading point scorers with 12 on the strength of a pair of tries and one conversion. Haley Thompson, Louisa Justice, Talimaia Fuala'au, Sara Doyle, Zahira Roldan, and Gabrielle Miller scored AIC's other tries. 

The squad will have a bye week before playing NIRA Division I opposition at home on Sunday, October 1 as Princeton University visits Springfield for a noon kickoff.