by Matt Kennedy
CMU’s women’s rugby team squared off against the University of Northern Colorado this past Saturday, and coming off a strong opening game last week against Colorado School of Mines, the lady Mavs looked to continue a great start to the season.
The game was over quickly as Mesa steamrolled over the Bears with a score of 97-5. Complete domination is how this game can be summed up.
Right off the bat, Mindy McCracken instantly made her mark on the field as she scored the first try of the game within the first two minutes. A try is like a touchdown in football, but instead of 6 points it is worth 5.
An additional two points can be added on top of a try with a conversion kick, which is worth 2 points, as Carli Meis kicked the first conversion giving the Mavs the early lead. The rout of the Bears was just getting started as McCracken came back minutes later to score another try as she broke through the defense. She ended up with five tries to end her day.
As the first half progressed, the Bears defense was crippling under the attack of Mesa. The Mavs worked well as a team the whole entire game.
Taylor Mueller scored the team’s third try of the game about a quarter of the way into the first half as Meis added the conversion making the score 21-0. UNC would respond minutes later with a try of their own as they executed one of their only small bursts of offense in the entire game. Northern Colorado missed the conversion leaving the score midway through the half at 21-5.
Both aspects of the women’s rugby team from the backs to the forwards worked brilliantly because of effortless communication throughout the entire game. Mack Lewis, the head coach of the women’s and the men’s team, works hard in preparing her girls in the practices leading up to the game and it showed this past Saturday.
The next home game for the Mavs takes place on Sept. 24 against Colorado School of Mines, next week CMU faces off against UCCS in Colorado Springs as the Mavs look to improve to 3-0.
