By Matt Eisenberg, QBSN Staff Writer
Bobcat head coach Becky Carlson knew the importance of the first-ever home game for Quinnipiac’s women’s rugby team. Stephanie Hasher did what she could to help show the fans what the team is all about.
Hasher had two trys, Jacqueline Lilly and Allison Gnys each had a try and Krystin Orrico recorded a penalty kick to lead the Bobcats to a 23-7 victory over Marist Sunday at Alumni Field.
“It feels fantastic,” Carlson said. “I know the girls were relatively nervous before the game, but I think that this kind of proves that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
The Bobcats (2-2, 2-1 MetNY) were coming off a 15-5 win over SUNY-New Paltz on Sept. 25, their first win in program history. Playing at home was just as special.
“We’ve been working so hard. This was our time to show everybody what we’ve been working on,” said Hasher, a senior outside center. “We wanted to prove to everybody that we could do it and we were a team.”
Quinnipiac played Eastern Illinois Sept. 18 in the first-ever Division I women’s rugby game, but the first home game means a lot to Hasher.
“This is as just as big as that because we’re playing on our home turf,” she said.
Carlson said she was proud that her team, playing in its inaugural season, was able to compete with an experienced team like Marist (1-2, 1-2).
“These girls have only been playing for six months and they were playing a team that’s relatively veteran,” Carlson said. “I’m very, very proud of the way they pulled it together.”
Hasher earned a try at the end of the first half after the Bobcats won a scrum and ran to the left side of the field for a 13-0 lead. She gave Quinnipiac an 18-0 lead early in the second half when she dove past the goal line moments after Lilly was stopped by Marist.
“Hasher has been instrumental in our wheelhouse department, where she’s the one who’s expected to take the ball to the outside and she’s done well,” Carlson said.
Lilly scored midway through the first half down the right side for a 5-0 lead, and Orrico nailed a penalty kick for three more points. Gnys eluded two tackles and crossed the plane with 19:16 left in the second half.
The Bobcats shut out the Red Foxes for the first half, thanks to key defense by Hasher.
“I think, more so than the scoring, I think, her defensive play in terms of her tackle saved us from some big runs on the other side,” Carlson said of Hasher.
Marist scored its only try from Heather Carr and Kelley Sullivan made the ensuing conversion.
The Bobcats play their second-ever home game when they host Vassar on Saturday at noon.
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