Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA) is in the middle of its Ireland tour (July 18-29) and brought 44 players for its girls’ U16 and U18 teams. On July 22, EIRA beat Munster in a thrilling 15-14 victory, and then followed with two double-digit wins against Connacht. The tour continues with games against Ulster and Leinster. [All photos: Pat Maroney @patmoroney]

Annie Henrich (Orchard Park, N.Y.) kicked a first-half penalty against Munster, and then Charlotte Dauser (Sparta-Rock, Mich.) scored in the second half, a try that Henrich converted. In the final minute of the match, Henrich picked up a loose ball in EIRA’s end and pulled away from the defense for a long try and the go-ahead points, 15-14 to the Americans.

Annie Henrich moves the ball / Photo: Pat Moroney @patmoroney

Nearly half (20) of the players are returners from the 2022 tour, which marked EIRA’s first-ever overseas 15s trip for the girls’ program. The majority feature on the U18 side but there are currently six who still qualify for U16 inclusion. In summer 2022, the girls’ teams won four of five matches, and now face provincial teams that are ready for the Americans.

On Tuesday, July 25, both the U16s and U18s beat Connacht. The U18s triumphed 32-10, with tries scored by Abygail Lambert (Amoskeag, N.H.), Erin Croke (Regis, Colo.), Caitlin Moroney (Morris, N.J.), Sydney Gottesman (Marin, Calif.) and Caroline Cook (Charlotte Cardinals, N.C.). Henrich added two conversions and Moroney kicked a penalty.

The U16s beat the Connacht U16s 55-5. Tahna Wilfley (East, Colo.) scored two tries, while Carolyn Melody (West Carroll, Md.), Drew Dauser (Sparta-Rock, Mich.), Hazel Pron (Regis, Colo.), Alyssa Post (Sparta-Rock, Mich.), Jordan Shannonhouse (Regis, Colo.), Cecelia Rose (Green Bay, Wis.) and Cara Doherty (Aspetuck, Conn.) also dotted down. Margaret Kennedy kicked four conversions and Bailey Borum Gray (Charlotte Cardinals, N.C.) added the fifth.

Photo: Pat Moroney @patmoroney

EIRA U16s

Bailey Borum Gray – Charlotte Cardinals, N.C.
Cara Doherty – Aspetuck, Conn.
Sarah Frost – Woodlands, Texas
Sadie Hershberger – Amoskeag, N.H.
Margaret Kennedy
Rachel Kissinger – Celina, Texas*
Gia Kloter – Aspetuck, Conn.
Carolina Martinez – Green Bay, Wis.*
Carolyn Melody – West Carroll, Md.*
Kiernan Myles – West Carroll, Md.*
Carys Phillips – Woodlands, Texas*
Alyssa Post – Sparta-Rock, Mich.*
Hazel Pron – Regis HS, Colo.
Cecelia Rose – Green Bay, Wis.
Jordynn Shannonhouse – Regis HS, Colo.
Lucy Walker – East HS, Colo.
Mia Westmoreland – Pleasanton, Calif.
Tahna Wifley – East HS, Colo.
Sara Zavieh – Atlanta Valkyries, Ga.
Sydney Zavieh – Atlanta Valkyries, Ga.

Photo: Pat Moroney @patmoroney

EIRA U18s

Natalie Allen – Vienna, Va.
Rebecca Balladares – West Carroll, Md.*
Gabrielle Bryant – Try Time, Calif.
Cate Coetzee – Vienna, Va.*
Caroline Cook – Charlotte Cardinals, N.C.*
Katija Crawford – Pasefika, Hawaii*
Erin Croke – Regis HS, Colo.
Mia Daoust – Boston Women, Mass.
Charlotte Dauser – Sparta-Rock, Mich.*
Drew Dauser – Sparta-Rock, Mich.*
Pamela Domres – Stevens Point, Wis.
Keeley Fugazzi – Dublin, Ohio
Malina Goldstein – Monarch, Colo.
Sydney Gottesman – Marin, Calif.
Lauren Hearder – Doylestown, Pa.
Annie Henrich – Orchard Park, N.Y.*
Kahiwalani Kahalepuna – Pasefika, Hawaii
Reaghan King – Doylestown, Pa.*
Erica Kissinger – MacDowell Academy, Canada*
Abygail Lambert – Amoskeag, N.H.*
Caitlin Moroney – Morris, N.J.
DaviAnn Pula – Pasefika, Calif.*
Osooso Sulunga – Pasefika, Hawaii*
Cecelia Stowers – Madtown Furies, Wis.*
Jennie Weiner – Aspetuck, Conn.*

* Competed on 2022 EIRA Ireland tour