CALEDONIA, Michigan - The American International College women's rugby team won a hard-fought 40-31 National Intercollegiate Rugby Association matchup on Saturday, October 26.

AIC is now 4-2 overall with a 3-0 NIRA Division II record.

Davenport struck first, notching the game's first try just three minutes in, but AIC was able to adjust and defend the Panthers attack from there, and the tables turned with Isa Van de Zand and Naomi Dodd both scoring barely three minutes apart; Camryn Henderson converted both tries to give AIC a 14-7 lead.

The Panthers bounced back to score just past the midpoint of the first and converted to tie the game, and it appeared that the game would reach halftime at that score before AIC stunned the hosts, with Henderson and Ro'Elenoa Lagilagi scoring in the final two minutes; Henderson converted her own try, and AIC went into the break ahead 26-14.

Dodd was the next person to score, touching the ball down in the try zone just past the 13-minute mark of the second half, and a Henderson conversion extended AIC's lead to 33-14. The home squad dug in, and found its way back into the game with a pair of tries and conversions as well as a penalty kick, closing to within 33-31 with just over seven minutes to play.

The final minutes were a true test of nerve for the Yellow Jackets, and AIC passed with flying colors. The team forced a lineout in stoppage time, and out of the ensuing scrum, Sa'Tya Miller broke through the defenses, breaking tackles to put home a try in the middle of the try zone. Henderson made no mistake with the kick, completing the well-earned win.

AIC now only has the University of New Haven standing in the way of the first undefeated NIRA DII regular season in program history; the Yellow Jackets visit the Chargers on Sunday, November 3 for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff.