Women's Rugby Falls Just Short at Queens

Saturday, October 28

Charlotte, N.C.

11:00 AM

Princeton University

Queens

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

October 29, 2023 | Women's Rugby

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Princeton University women's rugby team endured a long bus ride to to take on Queens University at Charlotte. Queens has had much success at the Division II level and are competing in Division I this year, so it was a match the Tigers were looking forward to playing.

The match kicked off at 11 a.m. in a sweltering North Carolina heat. Queens scored early off a lineout, but the Tigers responded with some heat of their own. Hannah Mulligan dotted down her first varsity try after Princeton strung together multiple phases. Princeton trailed Queens at the close of the first half, 7-17.

Queens opened the half with a score, but the Tigers responded with an impressive try from Celia Watson, who used her fancy footwork to slice through the Queens defense. Malinka Kwemo converted the extra points, for the second time, closing the score line to 14-22. Queens scored again, but the Tigers kept the try out wide preventing a successful conversion kick.

With less than ten minutes left in the match, Annabelle Edwards, sprinted with the ball towards the try line and is stopped just short. Amelia Clarke finished the job and scores the try out wide. Without a conversion the Tigers trailed Queens, 27-19. The score ended up being the final, however the Tigers fought hard and the match seemed much closer.

Standout performances from Celia Watson, with her footwork slicing through Queens' defense, Hannah Mulligan and Leilani Bender continuing their onslaught of defense and poaching capabilities, Ciara Loughran impressively fielding several aerial balls and controlling the backfield, and Sophia Villacorta with an impressive performance on both sides of the ball.

Up Next
The Tigers wrap up the fall season at 12 p.m. on Nov. 4 against Dartmouth at the West Windsor Rugby Field. Princeton's fall finale will also be a Pride Game.