This past weekend the Dartmouth Women's Rugby Club became Champions in the Ivy League Tournament for the second year in a row.
As the defending champions, the women had their hearts set on playing on the Sachem fields, but were denied the opportunity to defend their title at home because of snow. The team had to settle for playing at Princeton instead, but didn't let the change in plans lessen their motivation.
The team got off to a good start in the tournament when they took on Pennsylvania, ranked 8th, on Saturday morning. In the first half Dartmouth staggered around the tryline with no progress, until Elisse Gaynor '03 broke down the Quaker defense to put Dartmouth up 5-0.
As the clock continued to tick in the half, Dartmouth began to loose control of the game. The Quakers managed to squeeze through the Big Green's defensive lines for a try and a good conversion, putting Penn up 7-5.
Although concerned, Dartmouth did not lose its composure. In the last play of the half Gaynor once again stepped up for a try. Sarah Foy '01 made the touchdown even sweeter with a good two-point conversion, putting Dartmouth up 12-7.
The second half of the game belonged to Dartmouth. Bridget Waitkus '02 came out and quickly scored a touchdown, followed by scrumhalf Amy Lynne Frankel '03 within a short period of time. It was not too long before Waitkus would score another touchdown, with Foy following with a successful conversion.
Later in the game Molly Johnson '02 scored a try, followed by Foy, who made her own conversion. When the game was over the club advanced with a score of 45-10.
In the Finals on Sunday, Dartmouth first took on Columbia University. Although the game was close and well fought, Dartmouth proved to be victorious, winning 8-0.
The defense of both teams in the first half can only be described as incredible. Columbia made numerous attempts for a try, but was shut out in the half by the stellar defensive position of the Big Green.
Columbia's defense too was well fortified, allowing Gaynor to score only one try in the half. That proved to be all that the Big Green women would need, with the team's level of defense.
In the second half, there were no more touchdowns to be scored by either team. Dartmouth was awarded three points at the end of the half, after Foy made a conversion because of a penalty at the tryline.
Now, the team is preparing to go to Nationals this weekend in Orlando, Florida. The women are enjoying their victory, but have their minds set on the big game this Saturday, taking into consideration everything that must be done to ensure a victory.
"Many of the other teams in the tournament have been practicing on grass for months, while we still can't use our fields. So everybody has had to be flexible and make sacrifices to get together whenever we can.
"There are injuries and sore muscles from Ivies to take care of, but more importantly there is a lot of mental preparation that has to happen -- thinking about what we did last weekend that was good and what was bad, and what we have to do to keep winning at the higher levels.
"We have stay focused on all the confidence we have in our game and the desire we have to win," Laura Burt '02 said.
If the women play as they have been, all should go well in Orlando.
