Sunday, October 18
Springfield, MA
5 PM
Sacred Heart
32
at
33
American International College
10/19/2026 10:29:00 AM | Women's Rugby
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sacred Heart women’s rugby battled until the final whistle on Sunday, falling to AIC in a back-and-forth contest, 33-32.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sacred Heart University women's rugby battled until the final whistle on Sunday, falling to AIC in a back-and-forth contest, 33-32.
The Pioneers struck first, as Sam Melvin crossed the try line at the 37:13 mark to give SHU an early 5-0 lead. AIC responded with a converted try to take a 7-5 advantage before Maria-Jean Paulino put the Pioneers back in front, scoring at 21:30 to make it 10-7.
AIC regained the lead with another try at 13:44, moving ahead 12-10. Sacred Heart answered with a successful kick from Viola Koning at 9:20 to reclaim a 13-12 advantage. Paulino added her second try of the half at 5:25, and Koning converted to send the Pioneers into halftime with a 20-12 lead.
AIC opened the second half with a converted try at 34:14, cutting the deficit to 20-19. Ella Huntley responded for Sacred Heart with a try at 27:27, extending the Pioneers' lead to 25-19.
The back-and-forth battle continued as AIC scored another converted try at 21:24 to take a 26-25 lead. Koning answered at the seven-minute mark, crossing the try line before converting her own score to put SHU back in front, 32-26.
AIC scored one final converted try at 4:37 to edge ahead, 33-32. The Pioneers continued to battle but were unable to reclaim the lead before time expired.
Paulino led the Pioneers with two tries, while Melvin, Huntley and Koning each added a try. Koning also contributed a conversion and a successful kick.
The Pioneers head to Hanover, New Hampshire on Saturday, Oct. 24, to take on Dartmouth at 2 p.m.
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SCORING SUMMARY – First Half
37:13 – Sacred Heart Try by Sam Melvin (5-0, SHU)
27:27 – AIC Try, Conversion good (5-7, AIC)
21:30 – Sacred Heart Try by Maria-Jean Paulino (10-7, SHU)
13:44 – AIC Try (10-12, AIC)
9:20 – Sacred Heart kick by Viola Koning (13-12, SHU)
5:25 – Sacred Heart try by Maria-Jean Paulino, Try by Viola Koning (20-12, SHU)
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SCORING SUMMARY – Second Half
34:14 – AIC Try, Conversion good (20-19, SHU)
27:27 – Sacred Heart Try by Ella Huntley (25-19, SHU)
21:24 – AIC Try, Conversion good (25-26, AIC)
7:00 – Sacred Heart Try by Viola Koning, Conversion good by Viola Koning (32-26, SHU)
4:37 – AIC Try, Conversion good (32-33, AIC)
The Pioneers struck first, as Sam Melvin crossed the try line at the 37:13 mark to give SHU an early 5-0 lead. AIC responded with a converted try to take a 7-5 advantage before Maria-Jean Paulino put the Pioneers back in front, scoring at 21:30 to make it 10-7.
AIC regained the lead with another try at 13:44, moving ahead 12-10. Sacred Heart answered with a successful kick from Viola Koning at 9:20 to reclaim a 13-12 advantage. Paulino added her second try of the half at 5:25, and Koning converted to send the Pioneers into halftime with a 20-12 lead.
AIC opened the second half with a converted try at 34:14, cutting the deficit to 20-19. Ella Huntley responded for Sacred Heart with a try at 27:27, extending the Pioneers' lead to 25-19.
The back-and-forth battle continued as AIC scored another converted try at 21:24 to take a 26-25 lead. Koning answered at the seven-minute mark, crossing the try line before converting her own score to put SHU back in front, 32-26.
AIC scored one final converted try at 4:37 to edge ahead, 33-32. The Pioneers continued to battle but were unable to reclaim the lead before time expired.
Paulino led the Pioneers with two tries, while Melvin, Huntley and Koning each added a try. Koning also contributed a conversion and a successful kick.
The Pioneers head to Hanover, New Hampshire on Saturday, Oct. 24, to take on Dartmouth at 2 p.m.
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SCORING SUMMARY – First Half
37:13 – Sacred Heart Try by Sam Melvin (5-0, SHU)
27:27 – AIC Try, Conversion good (5-7, AIC)
21:30 – Sacred Heart Try by Maria-Jean Paulino (10-7, SHU)
13:44 – AIC Try (10-12, AIC)
9:20 – Sacred Heart kick by Viola Koning (13-12, SHU)
5:25 – Sacred Heart try by Maria-Jean Paulino, Try by Viola Koning (20-12, SHU)
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SCORING SUMMARY – Second Half
34:14 – AIC Try, Conversion good (20-19, SHU)
27:27 – Sacred Heart Try by Ella Huntley (25-19, SHU)
21:24 – AIC Try, Conversion good (25-26, AIC)
7:00 – Sacred Heart Try by Viola Koning, Conversion good by Viola Koning (32-26, SHU)
4:37 – AIC Try, Conversion good (32-33, AIC)
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