Quinnipiac University
Army West Point
QU Women's Rugby Opens at Home With 50-17 Victory Over the Army Black Knights
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rugby
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| Team | 1st | 2nd | Final |
| No. 6 Army | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| No. 11 Quinnipiac | 24 | 26 | 50 |
HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac women's rugby team took advantage of their first home contest at the QU Rugby Field. Led by two-time All-American junior Natalie Kosko (Sebastian, Fla.), the Bobcats defeated the Army Black Knights, 50-17. Kosko was all over the field for the Bobcats and finished the game with three tries and an assist.
According to goffonrugbyreport.com, the Black Knights came into the contest ranked sixth while the Bobcats stood at number 11. This was Army's first game as a varsity program after transitioning from club.
The first half started as a defensive stalemate between the two squads with not much progression up field. Play was mostly held around midfield until the Bobcats went on a scoring rampage started off by senior wing, Elisa Cuellar (Palm Bay, Fla.). Cuellar caught a pass from Kosko for the first try nearly 17 minutes into the game. The try was Cuellar's second of the season and 17th of her career. Kosko recorded her third assist of the season with a spectacular pass to find Cuellar in open space.
Sophomore Madison Gegeckas (Downingtown, Pa.) added to the scoring with her first try on the season quickly after the first score. Former Quinnipiac soccer player Aine McKeever (Derry City, Ireland) converted the kick to bring the score to 12-0. Resuming her 2013 form, Kosko intercepted a pass intended for an Army player and took it in for her first try of the afternoon. Minutes later, Kosko scored her second consecutive try on an assist from senior Jennifer Salomon (Garnerville, N.Y.). McKeever followed up with her second successful conversion of the day.
With the score at a commanding 24-0, the Black Knights scored their first try late in the second half. After Army converted on the kick, the halftime score read 24-7.
Senior Shannon Durkin (Oakland, Calif.) started the scoring in the second half with a short run up the sideline. Shortly after, Kosko took the second Bobcat try of the half to the house from around midfield. The junior received the ball in open field and the Black Knights had no chance to bring down the 2013 Rugby Magazine U20 Player of the Year.
Salomon added her second assist of the afternoon on a beautiful setup for the sophomore out of Colorado, Hailey Wyatt (Breckenridge, Colo.). Wyatt recorded her first try of the year and sixth of her young career. With the score at 43-7, the Black Knights responded with a score and conversion of their own.
The last Bobcat try came from freshman Megan Johnson (Olympia, Wash.) on her first career score in a Quinnipiac uniform. McKeever had a phenomenal day on the kicking end going five for eight from the conversion mark with 10 points.
Up next, the Bobcats will travel to Hanover, New Hampshire to face Dartmouth on Saturday, September 13th at 2:30 p.m
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