The Quinnipiac women’s rugby team opened up its 2014 season with a dominating performance defeating Army by a final score of 50-17. The Bobcats out played the Black Knights all afternoon long and never looked back after scoring their first try. The team was led by two-time All-American Natalie Kosko who led the way with three tries and one assist on the day. The Bobcats took advantage of the Black Knights youth and unfamiliarity as it was the Black Knights’ first match of the season.

Early on this game seemed as if it were going to be a defensive battle. The two teams were very physical out of the gate and neither side was giving an inch on the defensive side of the ball. This was, however, until the Bobcats finally broke through scoring the first try of the game. Kosko passed the ball to Elisa Cuellar who was able to score her first try of the season. This opened the flood gates for the Bobcats as they would never look back.

After a try for Madison Gegeckas and two by Kosko the Bobcats took a commanding 24-0 lead. Army would show a glimmer of hope however, scoring their first try and converting on the kick to make it a 24-7 game at the end of the first half.

As the game resumed for the second half the Black Knights came out with a sense of urgency and had a chance to make things interesting. The Black Knights had the ball on the Bobcats goal line but the Bobcats were able to stop the threat and clear the ball, which led to a try of their own by Shannon Durkin.

The Black Knights had no answer for the Bobcats defense all afternoon and could not find a way to get through.  The Bobcats had multiple stops as the Black Knights were knocking on the door of scoring but could not get anything through.

“One thing that we’ve been working on in practice is that pressure within the five meters,  and not letting them in and fighting back and certainly capitalizing on those penalties deep in your own end,” Coach Becky Carlson said.

Not lost in the action was Bobcat freshman Megan Johnson who was phenomenal all day in the scrums for the Bobcats. The Bobcats dominated in possession time due in large part to the play of Johnson, who was also able to pick up her first try of the season towards the end of the second half.

This win brings the Bobcats record to 2-0 on the young season. It is a good win for the confidence of this team as well. It was a very physical hard fought game against an opponent who found themselves in the final four of last year’s national women’s rugby tournament.

“The score actually wasn’t reflective of the hard play that was happening out there,” Carlson said. “Army is certainly a good team.”

The Bobcats look to continue their winning ways as the head to New Hampshire next Saturday to take on Dartmouth.