Saturday was an important day for Life University, as the women’s team played its first matrix match in the DI Southeast Independent Rugby Conference. The Running Eagles celebrated in convincing fashion, running in 15 tries during the 90-0 victory over Florida State.

“We are happy with the outcome of our first matrix match,” coach Ros Chou said. “The team has been working incredibly hard at training, and we've brought in a few new players who are meshing well with the team.”

Three of the newcomers made good use of their debuts. Freshman Megan Rom (Saugerties, N.Y.) and sophomore Heidi Tressler (New Alexandria, Pa.) scored a try apiece, while rookie sophomore Kaitlyn Broughton (Mufreesboro, Tenn.) dotted down four times.

Veteran Samantha Elmore (Olympia, Wash.) came in second in terms of tries scored, dotting down three times, while Deshel Ferguson (Nassau, Bahamas), N'Keiah Butler (Lakewood, Wash.), Nicole Strasko (Roland, Iowa), Cynthia Kelly (Miami), Sarah McCandless (Chalfont, Pa.), Madison Ohmann (Indian Trail, N.C.) and Christina Swift (Boca Raton, Fla.) each added a try. Ohmann and McCandless split the kicking duties.

The offense was impressive; however, it was the scrum and lineout work that received acclaim from coach Chou.

"The set piece work was the bright spot on the day,” Chou told LifeRunningEagles.com. “The technical scrum work they've been doing with Dylan Fawsitt and Phil Thiel was applied skillfully on the pitch." 

Life travels to Knoxville next weekend to face Tennessee, which lost 48-7 to Georgia Tech in the opening round. Following the UT match, Life will play Central Florida on Feb. 21, and that game should be the apex of the Running Eagles’ competition.