NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's rugby team opened the home portion of its 2025 15s season in front of an energetic Homecoming Weekend crowd on Saturday morning, powering past the University of Vermont, 41-25, on the Graveyard Pitch.

It marked the first meeting between the two programs in more than a decade.  Norwich last faced Vermont on Sept. 28, 2013, a 60-27 road win for the Cadets, while Saturday's contest was the first time the Catamounts visited Northfield since Oct. 16, 2010, when Norwich rolled to a 62-0 shutout.

Senior Alyssa Gioia (Stamford, Conn.) led the offensive charge with a hat trick of tries, while five other Cadets found the try zone in a balanced attack.  Carlyan Vigbedor (Centreville, Va.), Leslie Malin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.), and Taina Negron (Melbourne, Fla.) each scored once, and Octavia Crawford (Shelburne Falls, Mass.) converted three successful kicks to round out Norwich's scoring.

In the trenches, Norwich proved strong in the set piece, winning seven scrums compared to five for the Catamounts.  Vermont narrowly edged the Cadets in lineouts, 5-4, but Norwich's control of possession and decisive runs through the midfield helped tilt the match in the home side's favor.

With the win, Norwich delivers another strong Homecoming Weekend performance on the heels of last year's 65-7 win over the University of Maine Orono.  The Cadets have now scored 40 or more points in their last two Homecoming matchups.

Senior Lupe Chavez Linares (Yonkers, N.Y.) received the Chris Munn '81 Rugby Scholarship, presented to a returning member of either men's or women's rugby team who demonstrates leadership, courage, and dedication, both on and off the pitch.

Norwich will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 27, with a 1:00 p.m. road matchup against the University of Rhode Island at the URI Rugby Pitch.