Story Courtesy of Rachel Crist, Rugby Contributor

WEST CHESTER, Penn. - In a commanding performance on the road, Davenport University women's rugby surged past West Chester University, securing a 65-14 win over the Golden Rams on Oct 19. The Panthers showcased their attacking prowess, with senior standout Alopa Nau leading the way with four tries. 

The game started off with a bang as Nau scored the first try just four minutes in, putting DU on the board. However, West Chester quickly responded with a try by Brooke Crago, followed by a conversion from Emma Davies, giving the Golden Rams a brief 7-5 lead. It would be the last time West Chester held an advantage, as the Panthers took control from then on. Nau added her second try at the 14:50 mark, sparking a scoring spree for the Panthers. Conversion kicks by Aubrey Crist, who went 5-for-10 on the day, extended DU's lead. Lionala Mayorga's try and Crist's subsequent conversion pushed the score to 19-7, and from there, the Panthers never looked back. The rest of the first half saw DU's forwards and backs working in unison to maintain possession and apply relentless pressure. Nau completed her hat trick, while Kara Higgins crossed the line twice in quick succession, giving the Panthers a 36-7 advantage at halftime.

Coming out of the break, DU maintained its aggressive pace. Crist added a try of her own at 44:35, showing her versatility both as a scorer and a kicker. Leilani Lepe and Mayorga continued to expand the lead by dotting down in the try zone, with Crist getting another try and an additional conversion making it 60-7.  West Chester managed to break through DU's defense for a try by Alyssa Miller, converted by Lilly Rhode, narrowing the gap to 60-14. Yet, the Panthers closed out the match fittingly with Nau's fourth try as the final whistle blew.

The Panther victory was a testament to their relentless attack and cohesive defense, leaving West Chester struggling to gain momentum. DU now looks to carry this winning form into its final regular season match at home where they will be honoring their seniors on Saturday, October 26 with an 11 a.m. kickoff against American International College (AIC) at the DU Turf Field.

Points Scorers
Aubrey Crist 20
Alopa Nau 20
Nala Mayorga 10
Kara Higgins 10
Leilani Lepe 5