NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Following a strong return to national postseason competition and a balanced 4-4 campaign, four members of the Norwich University women's rugby team have earned 2025 Rugby Northeast Division II All-Conference honors for the fall 15s season, as announced by the league office this week.
Junior forward
Carlyan Vigbedor (Centreville, Va.) and senior back
Octavia Crawford (Shelburne Falls, Mass.) were named to the All-Conference First Team, while senior forward
Alyssa Gioia (Stamford, Conn.) and senior back
Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.) collected Second Team accolades.
The quartet played central roles throughout the fall as Norwich returned to the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) Division II 15s National Tournament and closed the season with a 34-19 win over Texas-San Antonio in the West Regional Third-Place Game.
Vigbedor anchored the Cadets from the No. 8 spot, leading the team in scoring with 60 total points. A consistent offensive threat, she posted multiple 200-meter performances and averaged 150–200 meters gained per match across the fall slate. A selection to both the U23 Mid-Atlantic All-Star Team and Wisconsin Badgers U23 side, she added two tries in the CRC finale and finished as one of the tournament's leading scorers.
Crawford remained the team's linchpin at flyhalf, orchestrating Norwich's attack with a blend of tactical kicking and steady defense. She converted two kicks in the national tournament and regularly controlled field position with her ability to generate 50–100 meters per match through drop kicks and punts. She also maintained a 90% tackle success rate on the season and was previously honored as a U23 Northeast All-Star.
Gioia earned an All-Conference nod in a season that saw her finish top-10 in league scoring with 40 points. The senior captain contributed as a primary ballcarrier, set piece leader, and defensive enforcer, averaging between 55 and 90 meters per match and generating multiple turnovers per contest. She capped her 15s career with a try against UTSA and remained one of the team's most consistent presences in all phases.
Ells rounded out the honorees with a breakout campaign in the backline. A perfect 100% tackle rate and an average of 15 tackles per match highlighted her rise as one of the top defensive backs in the conference. She added a try in the final game of the season and earlier this year was recognized as an NCR Academic All-American.
The Cadets posted a 3-3 regular season record and advanced to the CRC Sweet 16, earning victories over the University of Vermont, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of Maine during the fall. The All-Conference announcement adds another postseason milestone to the team's historic long run of 15s and 7s tournament appearances.
