NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's rugby program opened its spring 7s campaign on Sunday with a competitive showing at the Roger Williams 7s Tournament, finishing fifth overall with a 1-2 record against a challenging field that included multiple higher-division opponents.

The Cadets opened the day against defending Div. I AA national champion Northeastern University, falling 33-5 in a fast-paced contest that tested Norwich's defensive organization and transition play.  Dejanae Foulkes (North Port, Fla.) accounted for the Cadets' lone try, finishing off a sustained attacking sequence to put Norwich on the scoreboard.

Norwich returned to action against the University of New Hampshire, a Div. II program, in its second match of the tournament.  Leslie Malin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) crossed the try line for the Cadets in a 29-5 setback, highlighting a determined attacking effort despite adversity.

The Cadets closed the tournament on a strong note with a commanding 32-5 victory over Div. I AA opponent Boston College to secure fifth place.  Malin again led the way offensively with two tries, with Monae Mangual (Sunnyvale, Calif.) added a score of her own.  Carlyan Vigbedor (Centreville, Va.) delivered a standout performance, registering three tries and adding a successful conversion kick, the first of the season, to cap an explosive attacking display.

Head Coach Baylee Annis praised the team's resilience and depth following the opening weekend of varsity competition.

"We're aiming for our best performance in our qualifying tournaments and we're on track," Annis said.  "We have immense energy and lots of talented depth that we'll get to showcase next weekend at Boston College."

Annis also highlighted several individual efforts that contributed to the Cadets' encouraging start.  Freshman Joy Lu (Tucson, Ariz.) impressed in her varsity 7s debut, anchoring the defensive effort with strong positioning and physical play.  Foulkes and Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.) consistently established momentum through contact, building a productive connection in the backfield.  Ells, who was elevated to the role of captain this spring, set a competitive tone throughout the tournament as Norwich embraced a schedule featuring Elite 7s tournaments against high-level opposition.

With valuable experience gained against a demanding slate of opponents, Norwich will now look to build on its performance as the Cadets continue their spring 7s season next weekend at Boston College.