State College, PA – Life University women's rugby returned from their trip to Penn State with a commanding 82-7 win, showcasing depth, skill, and some exciting debut performances. On a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the high 70s, the team took to the field ready to execute their attacking plan, and from the opening minutes, it was clear the Running Eagles had control.

The scoring began early, with forward Lia crashing over in the 8th minute, quickly followed by Cecelia Rose slotting a conversion. The backs then took center stage, as Sarah Barsoum and Cara Workman crossed the line to push the score forward, demonstrating clean, sharp attacking rugby. From there, the tries kept coming – forwards Immy Taylor and Clare Czap added their strength near the breakdown, while CeCelia Rose continued to shine in the backs, crossing for multiple tries and converting at will.

Throughout the game, the Running Eagles combined physicality with precision, maintaining 61% territory and 60% possession, while keeping PSU largely on the back foot. The team's cohesion and structure allowed them to recycle the ball effectively, creating multiple scoring opportunities. By halftime, Life U had already built an impressive lead, with the team playing with confidence and fluidity.
 
The second half brought more of the same. Forwards and backs alike contributed to the scoreboard, with Cora Haughey, Dorothy Vunipola, Tinerudo Mawoyo, and Avery O'Brien adding memorable tries. Penn State managed to break through once during a brief 5-7 minute period where some early errors allowed a try and conversion, but that was the only blemish on an otherwise near-perfect day for the Running Eagles.

One of the standout stories of the day was the debut performance of 10 freshmen, who made their first appearances for the program. The newcomers demonstrated composure, skill, and contributed to team plays seamlessly, integrating into Life U's attacking structures. Cecelia Rose in particular had a fantastic performance at the 10, not only scoring tries and conversions but also orchestrating the attack and demonstrating excellent game management.
 
Head Coach Ryszard Chadwick reflected on the day: "A day for the freshmen. They showed their quality, and the work we've done in training really showed. For the most part, we controlled the game, apart from a short 5-7 minute window where errors let Penn State over the line. Some basic mistakes from young players were to be expected, but this takes nothing away from their attacking structures and skill sets. Beautiful team tries were scored, and there were plenty of positive moments. CeCe Rose was outstanding, running the attack shape perfectly – a fantastic debut and a great start for our group."
 
With 14 tries, 7 conversions, and control over possession and territory, the Running Eagles put on a performance that highlighted both their experience and the promise of their young players. The team now looks forward to building on the momentum, returning home for their next contest against the Atlanta 2.0 Selects on Oct. 14th. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Life U Women's Rugby 🟢⚫️ 🦅 (@lifeuwrugby)