FROSTBURG, Md. - The Emory & Henry University Women's Rugby Team (0-1) got its 2024 season underway Saturday afternoon as the Wasps traveled to take on the Bobcats of Frostburg State University (1-0). Saturday's contest marked the first official 15s match in the short history of the E&H program. The Bobcats defeated the Wasps by a 39-5 margin.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE - Frostburg State 39, Emory & Henry 5
LOCATION - Frostburg, Maryland
VENUE - Frostburg Rugby Field
RECORDS - Emory & Henry (0-1); Frostburg State (1-0)
How It Happened
- The match was played as four 20-minute quarters instead of the usual two 40-minute halves due to weather conditions in the Frostburg area. The Wasps were stout on defense through the opening 20 minutes of play, as they were able to hold the home team off of the scoreboard and the match was a 0-0 tie at the end of the first quarter.
- The second stanza was another defensive tussle, as both squads struggled to find the try zone. The Wasps made several forays into the Bobcats' side of the field on the back of long runs by freshmen Anna Branch (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Alana Walker (Clayton, N.C.), but could not punch it in for the opening score of the game. FSU finally broke through with around nine minutes to play in the half to put themselves on top 5-0. That is where the margin stood after 40 minutes of action.
- The Bobcats pushed the tempo to begin the second frame, scoring another try and a conversion kick just two and a half minutes after the halftime break to push their advantage out to 12-0. The home team added another try at the midpoint of the quarter to run the score out to 17-0. The Wasps defense stood tall late in the quarter to prevent any further damage and trailed by the 17-point deficit heading into the final quarter.
- Frostburg State tacked on another try after just over a minute elapsed in the quarter to make it 22-0, but the Wasps were able to respond. Freshman Yeimi Cardona (Wake Forest, N.C.) made history with 12:50 remaining as she was able to slip past the Bobcat defenders and find the try zone for the first official try in a 15s match in E&H program history, reducing the deficit to 22-5. The home squad was too much for the Wasps on the afternoon, as they posted two more tries and conversion kicks to earn the win by the final score of 39-5.
Freshman Kayla Spiegel (Jersey City, N.J.) was named Emory & Henry Player of the Match. Spiegel made several key tackles to stop FSU attacks and had several pick-and-gos that helped the Wasps march down the pitch for their first score.
Up Next
- The Wasps are back on the road this Saturday, September 7 when they travel to Wheeling, West Virginia to take on the Cardinals of Wheeling University for another 15s match. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Bishop Schmitt Field.
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