Air Force delivered another blow to the Navy women, defeating the visiting Midshipmen 47-22 in front of a dense crowd last weekend. Navy, an Independent DI team competing in ACRA, needs to hit a hot streak if it’s to be considered as an at-large inclusion in playoffs. Air Force is in a similar situation, competing in the USA Rugby-aligned Mountain West conference but applying for an at-large bid to ACRA playoffs.

Both teams have undergone a bit of a coaching shake-up: Jenny Jaspers Hansen replaced Sue Parker when the latter relocated to Harvard, and former AFA assistant coach Vic Tise has taken over for Lisa Rosen, who is still involved with the program. But all the personnel changes in the world couldn’t detract from the healthy rivalry that exists between academy teams, and although Saturday’s game was a friendly, the contest felt like a league match.

“Winning Academy vs. Academy games is huge in the military community, so while both teams played a good number of new players, I think that was probably the nature of the rosters and the preseason need to bank experience, rather than anyone treating the game as developmental,” said Rosen, who has also heard rumors of a developing Commanders Cup, which would involve Air Force, Navy and Army.

Navy was missing a couple of players, as was Air Force, the most influential of which being Ghianna Khoudry, who broke her clavicle last weekend against women’s club Black Ice.

“I think the big feature of the match was the contrasting styles of play and the overall display of athleticism,” Rosen explained. “Navy dominated the contact area and turned over possession throughout the game, where Air Force had the edge in open play.”

Rosen suspected that Navy had a slight advantage in the time of possession, but the hosts kept the scoreboard in its favor by using its agility to produce continual linebreaks to the try zone.

Flanker Marika Nemeth and flyhalf Hallie Marhol were involved in nearly every score. Nemeth set up wing Rhea McFarland for the game’s opening try. Marhol converted the score and then finished off prop Lydia Hill’s good work with a try. After Navy scored its only first-half points, scrumhalf Lauren Bramblett put Nemeth into the try zone, and Marhol’s conversion gave the hosts a 19-5 lead. Navy tacked on a penalty before the break, 19-8.

In the second stanza, Navy punched in two more converted tries – a tally that Marhol herself matched. Nemeth logged her second try of the game, while lock Tatiana Wynder scored unassisted. Marhol converted those tries, too, for a perfect kicking 4-4 in the second half.

“The match was a lot closer than the score indicates, and a huge crowd was in attendance due to the men's rugby game prior, the bonfire after, and the football game the following day,” Rosen said. “It was played on the Terrazzo at the Air Force Academy, which was just amazing for promoting the sport.”

Navy has one more game – this Saturday against DII St. Mary’s – to sort out the kinks before taking on four varsity programs: classic rival Army, Ivy League leader Brown, Harvard and also-independent Quinnipiac.

Air Force has another friendly against DII Colorado College before starting its conference schedule, beginning with Colorado State. Top contenders Women’s Cougar Rugby (BYU) and New Mexico will sharpen up the Falcons for post-season.