Life University Athletics

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- In an electrifying competition that went down to the wire, the Life University women's rugby team came up just short against Lindenwood in the USA Rugby Women's D1 Elite National Championship match by a score of 17-15 Saturday afternoon.
 
A strong move up field by Susan Adegoke early in the game set the Running Eagles up for the first points of the Championship game off a Jess Keating penalty kick in the seventh minute. Keating's second chance at a penalty kick came in the 17th minute, the ball was kicked accurately, but did not have enough leg to see the score stay 3-0.
 
In the 33^rd minute, Lindenwood finally found a crack in the to that point tough Life U defensive effort, a break down the near border leading to a run-away score and the Running Eagles finding themselves in a 5-3 deficit. Shortly after, the Lions again found open space for a long try to make the score 10-3 a few minutes before the halftime break.
 
Before the break, the Running Eagles found an answer to Lindenwood's momentum, a maul near the try area leading to a powerful Abigail Bachman score to send the teams into the break with a score of 10-8.
 
Lindenwood started the second half quickly, scoring a quick try to see Life U go back down by two scores at 17-8 after the conversion was good. Another long run by Lindenwood ended with a Life U poach at the try line for a huge defensive stop at the midpoint of the second half.
 
With time getting tight, Saher Hamdan caught a pass, broke a couple tackles, and raced away down the field to dot down a try with less than two minutes to play. A Keating conversion saw the score tight at 17-15, but there was not enough time remaining to score again, that score standing as the final.
 
With the tight loss in the championship game to rival, Lindenwood, the 15's season comes to an end for the women's rugby team. They now turn to the Spring 7's season.