Late surge not enough for Women's Rugby at Brown

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Naomi Dodd scored two tries and Camryn Henderson added one as well as a trio of conversions in a hard-fought 38-21 loss by the American International College women's rugby team to Brown University on Friday, September 20.

AIC is now 1-1 on the season, and remains 1-0 in NIRA Division II play.

Though Brown struck first, AIC answered; Venise Sanft offloaded the ball on the left side of the field to Dodd, who dodged past a variety of defenders and cut back into the middle for a try in the 15th minute. Henderson converted to tie the game 7-7.

Both teams settled in after that, with key defensive stops at both ends; the Yellow Jackets held up the Bears in the try zone several times, preventing scores. However, a late call against AIC deep in the team's defensive end with no time left on the clock allowed the hosts to kick a penalty through for a 10-7 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Bears began to build a lead, scoring quickly out of the halftime break. They added three more tries over the course of the half for a 38-7 lead.

The Yellow Jackets were undaunted, however, and continued to push. Jendell Moe busted through the middle, knocking down a Bears defender, and out of the pileup, it was Dodd again, breaking past the remaining defenses and putting the ball down underneath the uprights in the 12th minute of stoppage time. Henderson again landed the conversion. 

With time winding down, AIC put the ball through one more time. A long run from Kiyanah Edwards put the Yellow Jackets deep in Brown territory, and after a strong effort by SaTya Miller drew a call against the Bears, Henderson caught a pass from Azariah Walker in the middle of the field with momentum and busted through, dragging a defender across the line. She converted her own try as well, which turned out to be the game's final play. 

AIC returns to action at Bowdoin College on Friday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m.