ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The Norwich University women's rugby team turned in a competitive showing at the St. Bonaventure 7s Automatic Qualifier Tournament this past weekend, battling through a challenging field to secure a third-place finish.

The Cadets opened the tournament in strong fashion with a 22-5 victory over the University at Buffalo.  Norwich showcased a dynamic attacking presence early, with Lillie Ells (Centerville, Mass.) and Dejanae Foulkes (North Port, Fla.) driving play and creating opportunities for the offense.  Joy Lu (Tucson, Ariz.) led the scoring with two tries, while Morgan Zelenak added another.  Carlyan Vigbedor (Centreville, Va.) contributed a conversion to round out the opening win.

Norwich then faced a fast-paced matchup against Fairfield University, a talented squad ranked third nationally in 15s play.  Despite a strong defensive effort from Zelenak, Lu, Sophia Taylor (Canaan, N.H.), and Ells, the Cadets fell, 32-5.  Lu accounted for Norwich's lone try in the contest.

In a tightly contested battle against Niagara University, Norwich dropped a narrow 12-10 decision.  The Cadets showed resilience throughout, continuing to press offensively until the final whistle, with the last sequence ending just five meters from the try line.  Maddy Carbonneau (Littleton, N.H.) and Ava Smith (North Falmouth, Mass.) played pivotal roles in possession, each helping set up scoring opportunities.  Leslie Malin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Foulkes each recorded tries in the effort.

Norwich continued its strong play against Adrian College in another closely fought matchup, ultimately falling 24-22.  The Cadets traded momentum throughout the contest against an elite opponent, with Malin delivering a standout performance, scoring twice on the outside through her speed in open space.  Vigbedor added two tries, while Foulkes contributed another score.  Ells converted a kick as part of the Cadets' balanced offensive output.

The Cadets closed the tournament on a high note in the bronze match, rallying to defeat Kent State University, 22-17.  Following two tightly contested losses, Norwich responded with one of its most determined performances of the day.  Foulkes delivered the defining moment, breaking through three defenders on the outside for a 100-meter try off a scrum at Norwich's own try line to seal the victory at the final whistle.  Malin, Zelenak, and Vigbedor each added tries, while Vigbedor also converted a kick.

Individually, Vigbedor reached a significant milestone during the tournament, surpassing 150 career points.  Malin also continued her climb up the record book, now sitting at 135 career points as she nears the same benchmark.  The pair rank among the program's top scorers of the past decade, highlighting their sustained offensive impact.

Norwich will return home this weekend to host the annual Chris Munn Rugby 7s Tournament on Saturday in Northfield, Vt.  The Cadets are set to open the day at 8:20 a.m. against Middlebury College on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.  The tournament field will also include Vermont State University Castleton, Plattsburgh State, New England College, and Saint Michael's College.