Photo: Donna Doherty •
Last week was a big one for breaking records. The Chicago Cubs, Ireland, and now Quinnipiac. The Bobcats served Penn State its first 15s loss in five years, and Canterbury Player of the Week* Emily Roskopf contributed three tries in the solid win.
Penn State is the reigning DI Elite champion and won the previous four DI national championships. All told, the Nittany Lions have 11 national championships in 15s. Quinnipiac is the reigning NIRA champion. Both teams are in playoff mode and scheduled Saturday’s friendly at Mount St. Mary’s to ready for the NIRA and Big Ten championships, respectively.
“Heading into the game, we were very focused and determined because we felt like we had something to prove,” the sophomore from Pleasanton, Calif., explained. “Even though a lot of people were saying that the game didn’t really matter because it was not a league game, we treated the game with the same amount of intensity and importance that we would any other game.”
Through the first 30 minutes of the match, the teams traded tries. All-American No. 8 Kyla Chipman opened up the scoring for Penn State, while hooker Marley Golato and wing Tess Feury followed for the Nittany Lions’ 17 first-half points. Quinnipiac answered with tries from New Zealand wing Flora Poole and two from Roskopf, and the scoreboard sat at 19-17 with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
But right before the break, the Bobcats broke routine as Tayler Schussler scored. Madison Gegeckas’ conversion gave Quinnipiac its first lead of the game (26-17), one that it wouldn’t surrender for the remainder of the match.
“Penn State was pretty similar competition to some of the top teams we’ve played this season, especially Central Washington and AIC,” Roskopf assessed. “They have a very dynamic backline with similar strengths to our backline, so it was all about containing them and making sure that we dictated the pace of the game.”
Akin to her first-half scores, Roskopf’s third try evolved after a strong forward run, quick recycle and then set-up from inside center Ilona Maher.
“I think that we had the advantage when we spread the ball quickly and didn’t give the defense a chance to set up,” Roskopf added. “The continuity between our backs and forwards is what allowed us to suck in the defense and move the ball wide. We functioned as a team of fifteen players and not a team of forwards and backs.”
Senior Maggie Myles, a product of the West Carroll (Md.) Marauders and whose father coaches Mount St. Mary’s women’s team, scored next. Wing Caitria Sands scored Quinnipiac’s final points to cap a 29-point run. Penn State’s Feury added a late try for the 41-22 final.
“My team was very excited because not only did we beat Penn State, we set an example for college rugby and where it is headed,” Roskopf reflected on the match as a whole.”
* The accolade applies in title only, and no prize money, gear or extra student-athlete benefit was accepted based on NCAA eligibility.
Every Monday, a Canterbury Player of the Week is profiled, and at month’s end, readers vote for the Canterbury Player of the Month. Previous winners include October’s Sara Parsons and September’s Sui A’au.