HARRISONBURG, VA. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's rugby team won their first-ever NIRA match of the season, 62-35, over Sacred Heart University Saturday afternoon, hosted by James Madison University.
 
The Royals were led by senior Antares Lance with three tries, followed by two freshmen, Alle English and Jenna Klenz, who each scored two. Junior captain Abby Berberich, Angelica Rodriguez, and Sarah Awad each scored one try for Queens, while English also recorded five conversions and Awad tallied one conversion in the win.
 
The squad saw their first try in the history of women's rugby as an NIRA team scored by freshman Klenz just five minutes into play, which was followed by a successful conversion kick from English to make the score 7-0 early in the match. Klenz also made a major impact at the hooker position, as she was able to steal six scrums against the head.
 
Awad would score her first try of the season shortly after, making the score 12-0, but Sacred Heart answered back at the 16 minute mark with a Kaitlyn Lagase try and a conversion from Kaylee Hale, cutting Queens' lead to three, 12-7.
 
Freshmen English and Rodriquez both added a combined 21 points to the board next for the Royals with two tries and two conversions from English and one try from Rodriquez to make the score 33-7, all within 15 minutes of play.
 
Lance would score another try, along with another English conversion, just before halftime to make the score 40-7 heading into the halftime break. Rodriguez also finished the first half with five tackles and junior MiKayla Tatum added four to the tally.
 
In the second half, Queens would see tries from Lance, Berberich, and Klenz, and a conversion from Awad to increase their lead to 43 (57-14). Lance would close out the match with her third try of the day to make the final score 62-35 over Sacred Heart, who last year took second in Tier II competition.
 
Lance also added in three steals, and seven tackles total for the Royals. Rodriguez led the defensive effort with eleven total tackles and Awad followed with ten of her own.
 
Freshman Megan Reed contributed eight tackles and four assists in the win, while Tatum and Teaghan Steele each had nine tackles, and Steele offered two steals.  Klenz finished the match with six tackles and one steal, along with Berberich who finished with five tackles and hit the mark for five wins on attacking lineouts.
 
"We're extremely proud of the way our team has worked to prepare for this moment in NIRA history," head women's rugby coach Katie Wurst stated. "It's such an honor to represent Queens on this stage, and we are grateful for the collective efforts made by so many to get to this day."
 
The Royals battle LIU Post next in another NIRA match-up in Harrisonburg, Virginia Saturday, September 14 at 2 p.m.