Women’s rugby takes on the weekend

Geneseo’s women’s club rugby team played in the mud at the “Ruck Rochester” costume tournament on Saturday, Apr. 6 (photo courtesy of women’s rugby).

Geneseo’s women’s club rugby team had a packed schedule this past weekend. On Saturday, Apr. 6, the team’s “B” side had a non-league 10s scrimmage against Buffalo State, where they put up a valiant fight against the Banshees. Although they did not come out victorious, the team enjoyed their time on the pitch; for some, it was their first time. 

Players such as sophomore wings Kate Mendola and Rachel Dennie and sophomore second-row Stella Kahnis successfully made powerful tackles. Kahnis caught every lineout throw favored to Geneseo and even stole Buffalo State’s throw-in. Sophomore scrum-half Elizabeth Tooker grabbed the ball out of each ruck quickly and easily, passing it off to junior fly-half Angela Totaro. Totaro passed it through the hands of the back line, gaining yards and bringing the ball closer to the try zone. Saturday was a great day for rugby and allowed newly interested players to experience a proper match. 

On Sunday, Apr. 7, the Geneseo Warthogs’ “A” side made their way to Rochester for a costume tournament at Aardvark Park. The team dressed as stormtroopers and were ready to take on any competition sent their way. With a muddy field, the team suited up against the Oswego Black Widows who dressed as Gatorade bottles, for the first competition of the day and came out victorious, 33-7. 

Senior hooker Jillian Orr hooked the ball out of the scrums with conviction in order for junior scrum-half Claire Lewis to get her hands on it. Lewis sent it to junior fly-half Caitlin Schirmer, who traveled down the backline towards junior wing Alexandra Wallace in a race for the try zone. Orr later got a quick offload from junior prop Maria Netto, took it up the field for one of her many tries on the day, and left the crowd cheering as she touched it down behind the uprights. Orr emerged from the mud to the embrace of her team, celebrating their score.

The Hogs faced Clarkson University who were dressed as crayons, in their next matchup. Quick switches and loops allowed sophomore center Ava Spottek to get the ball to Wallace again to quickly rack up points. Geneseo ended the game with a score of 33-12, putting them closer to the championship pool. 

The third team in Geneseo’s pool was SUNY Plattsburgh, who decided to compete as hippies but were not so peaceful on the field. Geneseo finished the game with a 28-5 win, as top scorer Wallace touched the ball down, leaving Plattsburgh to chase. Junior prop Madeline Sepcaru broke through Plattsburgh’s line of defense and made her way in between the uprights, where Spottek took the conversion kick with power and accuracy. Wallace once again led the team in tries scored with the help of her team which prepared to ruck over her in case she went down. 

With the Hogs in the championship pool, they faced off against Colgate University. Early on, Spottek received a quick pass from Sepcaru and stepped on the gas to make an impressive try and conversion kick. This wasn’t Spottek’s only try during the game as she made her way through Colgate’s tough defense and over the try line with the opposition on her heels, who were no match for her quick speed. 

In the championship match, Geneseo played the University of Buffalo for the top spot in this tournament, ending the day with a win and a score of 12-0. Quick rucks from the Warthogs made sure they kept possession, and players such as sophomore hooker Jessica Leonard blew through Buffalo’s rucks to steal the ball. Straight lineout throws from Orr guaranteed quick outs to the backs to progress the ball up the field and out to Wallace, who was the only try scorer during the game. 

The team poured onto the field to celebrate a successful and action-packed day, ending with a restful team social before returning home with big smiles and full hearts. This weekend, on Saturday, Apr. 13, the Hogs will travel to Buffalo for their “Battle for the Border” tournament, where they will face off against teams from near and far.