Life University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. – Life University went 3-0 at the Owl-O-Ween Tournament with wins over Georgia, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State on Saturday in cold and wet conditions.
 
"The coaches have been really thankful that we've had a number of matches to develop our JV squad, and are lucky to have so many competitive Division 2 teams locally," Head Coach Rosalind Chou said. "KSU showed why they are the SIRC defending champions and that really was a perfect finale to the tournament.
 
"All of our players got a number of minutes, and we tried a number of new combinations and moved people into different positions to see how they would fair."
 
In the first match of the day, the Running Eagles defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 47-0. In total, seven players scored tries, with Malery Billingy and Gabriela Bergamin scoring two tries apiece.
 
Jesah Haun got things started for Life U early as scored a try in the first 1:30 of the match to give the Running Eagles an early 5-0 lead. Billingy would dot the ball down in the try zone a short time later at 4' to add to the lead 10-0. Catlina Tatafu continued the scoring flurry at 7' with a try of her own, and pushed the lead to 15-0. Life U scored three more times during the half with tries from Billingy, Ana Fanning and Jade M. Garcia to take a 30-0 lead into the half.
 
The Running Eagles continued their dominance in the second half. Bergamin scored back-to-back tries at 30' and 32' with Emilie Cunnington scoring the match's first conversion on the second try. Maria Marin scored the match's final try at 40' to give Life U the 47-0 victory.
 
In an abbreviated match against Georgia Tech, the Running Eagles won 29-0. Garcia lead the squad with two tries, while three other players also scored tries.
 
Garcia scored the first try of the match at 3' giving Life U a 5-0 lead. Bergamin added to the score with a try of her own at 10'. Garcia found the try zone for the second time giving the Running Eagles a 15-0 lead at 15'. Life U scored twice more with Marin and Octavia Lenior dotting the ball down and Cunnington scoring conversions on both tries to take the 29-0 win.
 
The final match of day came against the defending South Independent Rugby Conference Champions and Division 2 National Championship participant Kennesaw State Owls. In a low scoring affair, Life U came out on top 15-5.
 
"KSU is such a physically dominant team, and created a number of turnovers in the first half," said Chou. "We were challenged to maintain possession and to win our set piece. In the second half, Ana Fanning really stepped up and utilized tactical kicking to get us on the front foot. It made quite a difference, and we had a good chase where Jesah Haun was able to finish both of our second half tries.
 
"Kennesaw State were such great hosts and we look forward to the spring, where we have an official conference season for our JV in the SIRC."
 
The Owls struck first in the match with a try just 40 seconds in to take an early 5-0 lead. The remainder of half played out as a defensive struggle with neither team scoring again in the period.
 
The second half saw the Running Eagle offense come alive as Maria Marin scored the equalizer to tie the match at 5-5 at 31'. Jesah Haun took the lead for Life U just one minute later, and sealed the victory 15-5 with a second try as time expired.
 
The Running Eagles are back in action at home on Nov. 19 as the junior varsity side will face off against the SIRC All-Stars and the varsity side will take on Stars Rugby.