Saturday, March 28
Fairfield, Conn.
Sacred Heart
22
vs
10
Quinnipiac
Photo by: Greg Vasil
Rugby Rolls to Win at Pioneers 7's Tournament
3/28/2026 7:38:00 PM | Women's Rugby
SHU won all four matches by 12+ points
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University rugby team dominated play at the Pioneers 7's Tournament on Saturday, going 4-0, with all four victories coming by 12+ points on the way to a first-place showing at the event.
SHU RED 22, Quinnipiac 10
QU opened the match with a try before Maria-Jean Paulino scored back-to-back tries to make it 10-7 SHU. The Bobcats scored the next try, but tries from Reese Torticill and Marley Gurmendi sealed a 22-10 victory for the Pios.
SHU RED 38, LIU 24
LIU netted the first two tries before SHU took command with three straight tries to build a 19-12 advantage. Two tries and a conversion gave the Sharks a 24-19 lead, but again the Pios were ready with a surge. Sacred Heart scored three tries to LIU's one in the second half and went on to claim a 38-24 comeback victory. Ella Huntley scored twice in the half to send SHU to the win.
SHU RED 35, AIC 17
For the third straight match, SHU's opponent scored first. The Pios scored next before another Yellow Jacket try made it 12-7 visitors. The Pioneers scored the next three tries, adding three successful conversions to put the home team up 28-12. AIC scored the next try, but Torticill iced the SHU victory with back-to-back tries, sealing a 35-17 win.
SHU RED 38, LIU 10
Championship Match
For the first time today, the Pios opened a match' Gabrielle Ferreira. The Sharks scored the next two tries, but the Pioneers would not allow any scoring after that. SHU scored 31 unanswered to claim the championship at Park Ave Field. Auriana Merfalen and Gurmendi highlighted the win with two tries each in the title match.
SHU GREY 7, Army 7
Both teams scored at the end of each half as the match ended in a draw. Lily Perez scored the try and kicked the conversion at the end of the second half to tally all of SHU's points.
AIC 34, SHU GREY 5
The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring with a try and a conversion before SHU answered with a try midway through the first half. Unfortunately for SHU, AIC scored the rest of the points in the match on their way to a 34-5 win.
Quinnipiac 31, SHU GREY 0
The Bobcats held control of the match, scoring all five tries on the way to a 31-0 win.
SHU GREY 39, New Haven 0
The Pioneers dominated the Chargers from the opening whistle, rolling to a 39-0 win. Hazel McRobie, Julia Arnone (2x), Ava Steed, Perez and Chaney Fisher all scored tries for SHU.
Next Up
Sacred Heart next heads to Hamden, Conn., for the Quinnipiac 7's on Sunday, April 12.
SHU RED 22, Quinnipiac 10
QU opened the match with a try before Maria-Jean Paulino scored back-to-back tries to make it 10-7 SHU. The Bobcats scored the next try, but tries from Reese Torticill and Marley Gurmendi sealed a 22-10 victory for the Pios.
SHU RED 38, LIU 24
LIU netted the first two tries before SHU took command with three straight tries to build a 19-12 advantage. Two tries and a conversion gave the Sharks a 24-19 lead, but again the Pios were ready with a surge. Sacred Heart scored three tries to LIU's one in the second half and went on to claim a 38-24 comeback victory. Ella Huntley scored twice in the half to send SHU to the win.
SHU RED 35, AIC 17
For the third straight match, SHU's opponent scored first. The Pios scored next before another Yellow Jacket try made it 12-7 visitors. The Pioneers scored the next three tries, adding three successful conversions to put the home team up 28-12. AIC scored the next try, but Torticill iced the SHU victory with back-to-back tries, sealing a 35-17 win.
SHU RED 38, LIU 10
Championship Match
For the first time today, the Pios opened a match' Gabrielle Ferreira. The Sharks scored the next two tries, but the Pioneers would not allow any scoring after that. SHU scored 31 unanswered to claim the championship at Park Ave Field. Auriana Merfalen and Gurmendi highlighted the win with two tries each in the title match.
SHU GREY 7, Army 7
Both teams scored at the end of each half as the match ended in a draw. Lily Perez scored the try and kicked the conversion at the end of the second half to tally all of SHU's points.
AIC 34, SHU GREY 5
The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring with a try and a conversion before SHU answered with a try midway through the first half. Unfortunately for SHU, AIC scored the rest of the points in the match on their way to a 34-5 win.
Quinnipiac 31, SHU GREY 0
The Bobcats held control of the match, scoring all five tries on the way to a 31-0 win.
SHU GREY 39, New Haven 0
The Pioneers dominated the Chargers from the opening whistle, rolling to a 39-0 win. Hazel McRobie, Julia Arnone (2x), Ava Steed, Perez and Chaney Fisher all scored tries for SHU.
Next Up
Sacred Heart next heads to Hamden, Conn., for the Quinnipiac 7's on Sunday, April 12.
Players Mentioned
Hooker/Flanker
/ Women's Rugby
Wing
/ Women's Rugby
Lock
/ Women's Rugby
Scrum Half
/ Women's Rugby
Wing/Fullback
/ Women's Rugby
Wing/Center
/ Women's Rugby
Center
/ Women's Rugby
Wing
/ Women's Rugby
Scrum Half
/ Women's Rugby
Center/Wing
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