UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - This weekend Penn State Women's Rugby hosted Saint Bonaventure in their third league match of the season. The Nittany Lions were able to get on the scoreboard early with a try by Danica Luzak at the 5-minute mark (5-0). St. Bonaventure answered five minutes later with a try of their own and took the lead 5-7. Penn State was able to take the lead back with a score by Callie Rautenbach breaking through the center. With a conversion by Jessica Ciaffi the score became 12-7. Minutes later, with a scrum on the 50, the Nittany Lions passed the ball to the weak side and Dani Deer outpaced the opposing wing to score her first try of the game. Ciaffi converted to bring the score to 19-7. At the 29-minute mark, Deer made another big break down the sideline to take the score to 24-7. In the final few minutes of the first half, Penn State would score again with Cara McManus off a pick and go. Ciaffi would convert and the Nittany Lions would go into half-time leading 31-7.
The Nittany Lions came out ready to play in the second half scoring a try in the first 5 minutes. Luzak took a quick tap and broke through the defense to score her second try of the game and Ciaffi converted to bring the score to 38-7. Five minutes later, Deer would intercept a Saint Bonaventure pass and run it in for her third try of the game. Ciaffi converted to make it 45-7. At the 15-minute mark Penn State was able to create pressure and force a knock on in the try zone by Saint Bonaventure for a goal-line drop out. However, some confusion from the Nittany Lions resulted in a free kick that Saint Bonaventure was able to turn into a try. This would be the final try of the game with the final score Penn State 45, Saint Bonaventure 14.
You can watch a recording of the game here.
Up Next, PSU takes on BYU at home. KO is 11am at West Fields. We hope to see you there!