The Dartmouth women's rugby club creamed Yale this weekend 29-3, improving its record to an unblemished 3-0.
Dartmouth's domination began as soon as Yale kicked the ball off. A few minutes into the game, wing Joyce Fu '03 touched the ball down at the edge of the try zone after a play by the backs.
"In the Yale game, I think everybody was really excited to play and wanted to win," Fu said after the game. "I feel as though if we come out strong in the beginning and do well, it motivates us to stay on top the rest of the game."
Not long after the first try, Dartmouth struck again, with Fu scoring on a breakaway off a pass from Sarah Foy '01.
With the score at 10-0, the action moved to the midfield. Yale had possession by Dartmouth's try zone for a few minutes, but Dartmouth took control again and moved down the field. After Dartmouth wheeled a Yale scrum by the 22-meter line and got possession, the Big Green methodically moved the action closer to Yale's try zone.
Yale won a ruck in its try zone, but dropped the ball. Prop Karin Ljungquist '02 took advantage, scrambling on top of the ball to give Dartmouth its third try of the game and a 15-0 lead, which held up through the first half.
The next half began with a Dartmouth kickoff. Yale took control this time, moving down the field and pressuring the try line. Dartmouth's defense, however, stayed strong, and a sudden breakaway in the Dartmouth back line sent the action surging up the field.
A great run by the backs and the loose forwards ended with a try by Betsy Super '02. Foy kicked in the conversion, putting the score at 22-0.
Just after the kickoff to Dartmouth, another Big Green open-field breakaway resulted in a quick try by fly half Bridget Waitkus '02, who was assisted by Foy. The conversion kick by Margaret Cecere '01 put the Dartmouth up by 29 points, and also put the game out of reach for the Bulldogs.
According to coach Deb Archambault, Dartmouth dominated most of the game, both offensively and defensively.
"Our ability to play 15-person rugby is surfacing with each game we play," Archambault said. "And despite Yale's decent scrummaging and aggressive defense, our tackling skills and rucking ability helped us to take control of the game. We also play a great support game and have the ability to use the entire field."
Dartmouth, though undefeated, has the looming challenge of playing the also undefeated University of Massachusetts down the road, in by far the biggest game of the season.
