Junior wing Marissa Cohn sprints down the field flanked by senior #8 Ava Elliott. The Buffs beat the Air Force Academy 7-3 Sunday. (CU Independent/Lee Pruitt)
The Colorado Buffaloes women’s rugby team isn’t one to let a freezing and foggy game day get in their way.
But Mother Nature didn’t stop the team from coming out strong Sunday with a win at home as the Buffaloes defeated the Air Force Academy Falcons 7-3 at Kittredge Field.
The game started out slow with the ball going out of bounds several times during the first five minutes.
An early AFA injury didn’t stop them from getting close to the try zone, but the Buffs resoundingly pushed them back.
Senior forward Jess “Freshy” Lucia came close to scoring a try in the first half but was unsuccessful.
A second Falcon injury helped the Buffs gain some ground due in part to the agility of junior Marissa Cohn.
To finish play in the first half, the Falcons attempted a kick to get on the scoreboard. However, the kick was no good and the first half remained scoreless.
Possession in the second half went back and forth for a long time and was followed by a third injury to an AFA player during the middle of the half.
With 14 minutes left on the clock, CU scored the first and only try of the game and successfully made their two-point conversion to give the Buffs a 7-0 lead.
Freshman anthropology major Colleen Carey attempts to evade a player from the Air Force Academy during Sunday's match. The Buffs beat the Air Force Academy 7-3. (CU Independent/Lee Pruitt)
Throughout the entire game, CU continuously kept AFA out of the try zone, preventing them from scoring.
The Falcons’ only points occurred with a penalty kick in the last five minutes of play, raising the score to 7-3.
The team credits its win to the support and teamwork they had collectively on the field.
“We had great teamwork and continued support,” Lucia said.
She added that the excellent communication and ground defense were crucial in preventing the Falcons from scoring.
The Buffs seemed to deal more efficiently with the weather than did the Falcons, having fewer injuries and turnovers. Good preparation also worked to the Buffs’ advantage.
“We warmed up well,” Cohn said. “It was important to get the ball wide. We train hard with every little thing we do.”
Head coach Jim Stebbins said he was very impressed with how the team played, especially in the second half. He pointed out how hard the girls worked to get their one try in the game.
This win put them in good standing for their upcoming games against the University of New Mexico and Colorado College.
“It’s exciting,” Cohn said. “We’re in a good position to win the league.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Marlee Horn at Marlee.horn@colorado.edu.
