West Chester’s women’s rugby team played their last game of the fall season, taking on the Shippensburg in an intensive battle on Saturday.
West Chester University came out on top with a score of 25-5. The game took place in Shippensburg, Pa. on a very gloomy yet warm morning. This game was not a divisional game, but the women treated it just as importantly and brought out the high intensity. In the first half, Shelby Kimport dove onto the ball in the try zone after a loose ball and raised the score to 5-0.
The second try of the game also came from the Golden Rams when Cheryl Johnson weaved in and out of defenders beating them down the field to gain another five points. The Shippensburg team then returned with a try of their own, their only try of the game taking the score to 10-5.
In the second half, the Rams continued with their attack putting three more trys onto the scoreboard. Kayla Gatto had two of her own followed up shortly by Erin Gallagher in the 69th minute.
When Gatto was asked about scoring her first try she had nothing but excitement on her face.
“I was thrilled to score my first career try in this game, and then to score another was beyond my wildest dream,” Gatto said.
A strong offensive effort was made by scrum half Ashley Purper as she got the ball to the back line. Jessica Rodearmel made a strong defensive effort, as she quickly adapted to the play of the game and brought down Shippensburg with her tackles.
This game added another win to the West Chester women’s rugby team bringing their record to 4-1-1. This was the last game of their fall season, and the team will return in the spring.
Devon Petaccio is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies with a film minor. She can be reached at DP749140@wcupa.edu.