Women's Rugby Falls to Sacred Heart in Season Opener

Friday, September 1

Fairfield, CT

6:00 PM

Army West Point

Sacred Heart University

Women's Rugby Falls to Sacred Heart in Season Opener

September 01, 2023 | Women's Rugby

Scoring Summary

FAIRFIELD, CT - Army West Point women's rugby was defeated by a score of 31-7 in its NIRA season opener at Sacred Heart on Friday night.

The Black Knights faced a 26-0 deficit at the half which proved too much to overcome, as Army outscored the Pioneers 7-5 in the final forty minutes.

Despite just one plebe (Emily Steen) cracking the starting lineup, the Black Knights saw a slew of changes from the usual fifteen from the 2022-23 campaign. Alissa Eisenhart maintains her flyhalf role after a brilliant plebe season, as Emma Gamboa and Olivia Popp will look to lead from the front as team captains. Gwynn Campos also made her return to the pitch after an injury ended her yearling season.

The Black Knights were unable to finish off possessions in the opening half, with Sacred Heart scoring the first try of the game eight minutes in before making it a 12-0 contest with a try and conversion at the midway mark. The Pioneers got two more seven-point possessions in the closing minutes of the first half, taking a 26-0 lead into halftime.

Army came out with a try to begin the second half, with Asha Jarusinski surging down the left sideline after multiple offloads in the buildup. Eisenhart made good on the conversion as Army suddenly made it a 26-7 game.

Asha Jarusinski touches down the first try of the season for Army!

Eisenhart makes good on the conversion to make it a 26-7 game early in the second half ??

?? https://t.co/EHPUUMXMJf #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/YlUus8ocl7
— Army Women's Rugby (@ArmyWP_WRugby) September 1, 2023

Despite going down to 14 players for a stretch after a yellow card, the Pioneers were able to hold steady defensively and kept Army off the scoresheet for the remainder of the game. Soon after getting back to even strength, Sacred Heart touched down its fifth and final try of the contest which made it a 31-7 final from Park Ave Field.

It marks the first time since 2018 that Army has lost its first game of the 15s campaign. The Black Knights will return next Saturday for the home opener at Anderson Rugby Complex, taking on defending National Champion Dartmouth at 7:00 p.m.