PROVIDENCE, R.I.— The Sacred Heart University women's rugby team had a strong showing in their opening weekend of Spring 7s play. The Pioneers had two teams competing at the Brown University 7s Tournament. The SHU Red team finished third in the tournament, and the SHU Grey team finished as Bowl Champions in ninth place.
SHU Red
Game 1 (W, 52-0) – SHU vs Penn State B
Sacred Heart had a dominating win over Penn State to open the tournament. Jumping to a 26-0 edge in the opening half, led by Caitlyn Caldon with a pair of tries. Alyssa Cunningham went 3-4 on conversions for six points in the half, and Makena Wright and Fabiola Millien-Faustin added a try in the opening frame.
The Pioneers doubled their score and kept Penn State off the board. Megan Chura, Caldon, Olivia Woods, and Millen-Faustin scored a try. While Cunningham (1-1), and Reese Torticill (2-3) brought in points off conversions to secure the 52-0 final.
Game 2 (W, 45-0) – SHU vs Brown B
In the Pioneers' second game of the day, Sacred Heart shutout Brown 45-0, the second straight game with a shutout. Cunningham led SHU with 16 points from two tries and 3-4 conversions. Ashley Torres-Brown and Chura both had a pair of tries for 10 points each. Caldon had one try and went 1-1 in conversions for seven points, and Torticill went 1-2 in conversions for two points.
Torres-Brown and Cunningham combined for 19 points as the Pios took a 19-0 lead at the half. Four different scorers in the second half secured the 45-0 victory over Brown.
Game 3 (L, 19-5) – SHU vs AIC A
Sacred Heart suffered its first loss of the day, 19-5, to AIC. Josie O'Donnell scored the lone try for the Pioneers in the first half, as SHU trailed 14-5 at halftime. AIC added a try to secure the 19-5 victory.
Game 4 – (W, 41-7) – SHU vs University of New Haven - 3rd Place Game
The Pioneers secured third place with a 41-7 victory over New Haven, finishing the day with a 3-1 record.
Sacred Heart jumped out to a 29-0 lead at the half, with points coming from Millen-Faustin, Caldon, Reece Woods, and Torres-Brown.
UNH got on the board in the second half, but Caldon had a pair of tries and Torticill added two points off a conversion as SHU defeated UNH 41-7.
"We had a great day with both sides having success out on the field," said Head Coach Michelle Reed."It was fun to watch our teams get a chance to perform after 6 weeks of hard work on the practice field. There is so much potential this season, and I look forward to seeing it develop through the 7s season."
SHU Grey
Game 1 (L, 17-7) – SHU vs Wheeling
Sacred Heart's second team competing opened the day with a 17-7 setback to Wheeling. Despite taking a 7-0 lead at the half with points from Khailey Kwamilele and Viola Koning, Wheeling had a strong second half to bounce back and secure a 17-7 final.
Game 2 (W, 26-5) – SHU vs Providence
The Pioneers secured their first win of the day, 26-5 over Providence. Julia Arnone, Reagan Vander-Heide, Sarah Gray, and Gabrielle Ferreira each scored a try for five points apiece. Koning went 2-2 on conversions for four points, and Hayley Galbraith was 1-2 with her conversions for two more points for the Pioneers to secure the 26-5 win.
Game 3 (W, 44-0) – SHU vs Penn State
SHU picked up its second win of the day, defeating Penn State 44-0. The Pioneers jumped ahead early, taking a 24-0 lead at the half. Highlighted by 10 points from Samantha Melvin from two tries, Gray and Erin Croke also scored in the opening frame, and Koning went 2-4 on conversions for four points.
Melvin added two more scores to finish the game with 20 points. Galbraith and Chaney Fisher each added a try to claim the 44-0 final.
Game 4 (W, 36-5) – SHU vs Coast Guard – Bowl Final
With its third straight win of the day, Sacred Heart claimed the Bowl Championship with its 36-5 over Coast Guard.
The Pioneers shutout the Bears 24-0 through the opening frame, highlighted by nine points from Koning, along with five points apiece for Croke, Melvin, and Gray.
In the second half, Galbraith added seven points from a try and conversion, and Ferreira also added a try. Coast Guard got on the board, but Sacred Heart secured the 36-5 victory for ninth place as Bowl Champions.
Up Next:
Sacred Heart will be back in action next Saturday, March 29, at Harvard for the Crimson 7s Tournament.
