Tries by Eight Different Players Help Big Green Defeat AIC

Saturday, October 6

Hanover, N.H.

11:00 AM

Dartmouth College

AIC

Senior Karina Martinez

Photo by: Doug Austin

Tries by Eight Different Players Help Big Green Defeat AIC

10/6/2018 12:32:00 PM | Women's Rugby

By: Charlotte Brackett

HANOVER, N.H. – A team effort that saw eight different players score nine tries helped lift the Dartmouth women's rugby team to a 53-17 win over American International College (AIC) at Brophy Field on a sunny Saturday morning. The Big Green improved to 5-0, while the Yellow Jackets dipped to 1-2.

"The team showed great versatility and growth today," head coach Katie Dowty said. "We tried quite a few different combos to keep building depth in every position. A number of players actually played three different positions throughout the course of the game and adapted well to each role. We were very happy to get valuable minutes for everyone, stretch our comfort zone and come away with another balanced scoring effort."

Dartmouth wasted no time getting on the board; junior Casey Smerczynski's first try of the season and a good kick by senior Camille Johnson gave the home team a 7-0 edge just over a minute into the game. The Green jumped further ahead seven minutes later with a try by senior Milla Anderson, but the Yellow Jackets cut into that lead with their first try of the day (12-5).

With a close game on their hands, Dartmouth ran away with the lead: tries by junior Alex Conway (the first of her career) and sophomore Idia Ihensekhien in under three minutes made it a 22-5 match. One last try with seven minutes to go, this time by senior Kat Ramage, closed the half.

Both the Big Green and the Yellow Jackets came out strong in the second half, preventing much attacking movement. After 10 minutes of play, Dartmouth scored four tries within 11 minutes (seniors Karina Martinez and Jules Wheaton, Anderson and Johnson) and, with three conversions by Johnson, the Green took a 53-5 lead.

After being kept scoreless since the 14-minute mark, the visitors found the tryline in the 67th minute and, following a conversion, made it a 53-12 game. The Yellow Jackets added one more try in the final two minutes to end the match.

The Big Green will close the regular season next Saturday at Army West Point, playing on the road for the first time in over a month.