NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. – The Life University women's rugby team opened its 2025 season in dominant fashion, defeating the New York Rugby Club 113–0 on the road Saturday.
The Running Eagles showed no signs of rust despite the 28-hour trip, scoring early and often to put the match out of reach by halftime. Forwards Emma Haughey and Sofia Fernandez crossed the line in the opening minutes, setting the tone for a one-sided contest. Behind them, backs N. Elliott and Alle English directed play with precision, turning possession into points and building a commanding lead before the break.
The second half followed the same pattern. Lisa Sailsbury provided consistent work around the field, while Christina Opeti's physical ball-carrying stretched the defense and added to the scoring margin. Additional tries from Madison Doyle, Hattie Greenwood, and Sarah Barsoum capped the performance, while Bella Vogel and Nina Mason added reliable kicking from the tee.
Life University controlled all phases of play, finishing with clean set pieces, a 14–6 turnover margin, and minimal handling errors. The team also won every scrum and the majority of lineouts, underscoring the balance between forward power and backline execution.
Head coach Ryszard Chadwick credited the result to preparation and focus.
"What a way to start the season! We handled a tough travel schedule and came out ready to play. Our pre-season laid a solid foundation, and it's clear the team has fully embraced our new attacking framework. What impressed me most was the mindset – clinical execution, team-first rugby, and real growth in just a few short weeks. Now, our focus shifts to bringing the freshmen up to speed and continuing this momentum into the next game, " said Chadwick
With an emphatic opening win behind them, the Running Eagles turn their attention to Penn State.
