BIDDEFORD, Maine - The Norwich University women's rugby team rallied late to score 10 unanswered points, however it wasn't enough as the Cadets fell 19-15 to Univ. of New England on Friday night in National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Division III action.
Audriauna Greeno (Putnam, Conn.), Morgan Butcher (Burlington, Mass.) and Anita DiMento (Carbondale, Colo.) each scored tries for the Cadets, but UNE ultimately prevailed, holding on for the four-point win to kickoff its homecoming weekend.
UNE (2-2, 2-1 NIRA D3) scored the first two tries to race out to a 12-0 lead. However, Greeno countered in the 29th minute with Norwich's first score of the game to cut the lead to 12-5.
The Nor'easters carried a 12-5 lead into halftime and then scored first in the second half with Alyssa Ehrenfried touching down for her second of two tries on the night to push the UNE lead to 19-5 in the 58th minute.
DiMento answered in the 63rd minute and then Butcher scored again in the 68th minute to cut the deficit to 19-15. However, Norwich was unable to hit either conversion, to fall short by four points.
Emily Ngo (Turlock, Calif.) led Norwich with nine tackles, while Amanda Lodi (Acton, Mass.) had seven and Jade Wimbish (Washington, D.C.) had five.
Norwich will return to action next Saturday when the Cadets host Colby Sawyer at 11 a.m. as part of Norwich Parent and Family Weekend festivities at the Dog River Pitch.
