Conference Game 2 v. RPI
This past Sunday, the sun wasn't the only thing scorching the pitch - Fairfield Women's Rugby brought relentless energy and intensity to their second conference game with an emphatic 63–7 victory over RPI. Despite the blazing heat, the Stags played with "all gas, no brakes" from the very first whistle.
The tone was set early when
Jacqueline O'Connor '27 broke through the defense for the opening try. With
Tia Stanton '26 quickly following suit, and
Molly Muller '27 convering, Fairfield jumped ahead 12-0. Only moments later, O'Connor struck again and stretched the lead further. The forward pods worked tirelessly, with
Hailey Fales '27 and
Danielle Cannizzaro '26 driving the ball downfield and setting up solid attacking sequences. Momentum only grew as
Katelyn Stirling '27 added her name to the scoresheet, bringing the score to 24-0. Next was a powerful score from
Ava Hockman '27, with a conversion from Muller. Hockman's fierce determination and fearless ball-carrying energized the entire team heading into the break.
The second half opened with Jill Koppy '28 showcasing her power, storming past the defense for another try. While RPI managed to sneak in a score of their own, Fairfield quickly reasserted control. Rookie Ciana O'Sullivan '29 got in on the action with a dazzling dash down the sideline to score, and
Ava Hiel '26 danced through defenders with her elusive footwork, keeping the attack alive. The Stags didn't stop there.
Olivia Draper '28 bulldozed through the line for another try, and O'Sullivan struck again, this time capitalizing on a perfectly placed punt from Koppy. On defense,
Grace Eberl '28 set the tone with the hardest hit of the day, delivering
a bone-crunching tackle that shut down RPI's momentum.
The final word belonged to Katie Quinn '26, who was electric across the pitch. Gliding past defenders like Disney on Ice, Quinn capped off Fairfield's scoring with a dazzling try that dealed the 63-7 victory.
The action did not stop there. In the B-side 10's match, Fairfield's rookies took the spotlight. Amelia Bowes '29 and Daniella Jimenez Peri '29 shone for the "Little Dogs,"
demonstrating grit and promise as the squad gears up for an exciting overnight trip to Vermont next week!
