WALTHAM, Mass. - The Norwich University women's rugby team opened its spring sevens season with a strong showing at the Bentley University 7s Tournament on Sunday, Mar. 23, as both the A Team (Norwich 1) and B Team (Norwich 2) took the pitch in a cross-division competition featuring programs from across the region.

Norwich 1 dominated pool play, going undefeated to earn a spot in the Cup Final, while Norwich 2 notched a hard-fought victory over Boston University B.  The tournament also marked the debut matches for nine Cadets, while Emma Zammit and Ava Smith made their long-awaited returns to the field after a year away from competition.

The Cadets' A Team established itself early, opening the day with a 17-12 victory over Boston University.  Kayleen Koumoue, Carlyan Vigbedor, and Leslie Malin each found the try zone, while Octavia Crawford added a crucial conversion kick.

Norwich 1 followed up with a commanding 20-10 win over Boston University in their second matchup, highlighted by tries from Shannon Hobbs, Amanda Uggalla, Katherine Suarez, and Alyssa Gioia.

Their most dominant performance came against Northeastern University, where Norwich pulled off a thrilling 32-24 victory.  Malin led the way with two tries, while Lillie Ells, Gioia, and Elinah Liaina also crossed the line.  Crawford's three conversion kicks proved critical in sealing the win.

Riding an undefeated streak into the Tournament Cup Final, Norwich 1 squared off against Boston College for the championship.  The Cadets held their own in set pieces, winning 100% of their lineouts and stealing three from BC, but ultimately fell, 24-5, in a hard-fought contest.  Malin added another try to cap off her stellar tournament performance, tying Smith for the most tries per match on the day.

Norwich's B Team (Norwich 2) opened with an impressive 20-10 win over Boston University B, showcasing dominance in the scrums with a 100% win rate and two scrums stolen.  Smith led the way with two tries, while Addisyn Herdic and Brooke Dembkoski each added one.

Despite a setback against the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Norwich 2 gained valuable match experience and saw Ells score in her first-ever rugby match.

With a strong first tournament behind them, the women's rugby team now turns its attention to a busy weekend on Saturday, Mar. 29.  The A Side will head to Providence College for the Providence 7s Tournament, while the B Side will compete in the Scott Miley 7s Tournament at the University of New Hampshire.