Kutztown is familiar with finals. The women’s team made its third consecutive appearance in the MARC championship game, but Saturday’s match finally went Kutztown’s way. After falling behind early on, Kutztown finished with a 45-7 win and first-ever conference title. Both finalists head to the USA Rugby Women’s DII College Fall Championship, hosted by ACRA, entering the competition in the Round of 16. Kutztown will compete in the Mid-Atlantic region, while Bloomsburg heads to the Northeast region.

As impressive as Kutztown has been this fall, Bloomsburg has matched the powerhouse in terms of achievements. This time last year, Bloomsburg was competing in EPRU’s division III. Behind the new leadership of coach Kevin Castner, the team debuted in MARC this year and won the Pennsylvania Division, defeated perennial threat Delaware in the semifinals, and scored the first points of the championship game.

The first 10 minutes belonged to Bloomsburg. Mobile forwards and precise backs allowed Bloomsburg to march down field, eventually sending outside center Rachel Harpster through a gap for the try. Fullback Kelly Mason converted for the 7-0 lead.

“This was the first time all season that KU trailed in a conference match,” Kutztown coach Sean Cobb said. “Captain Faith Hughes pulled her team aside and told them to pick it up and play the system. A few minutes after Faith's pep talk, flanker Jess Tolton broke through for our first try.”

Tolton, who led Kutztown with four tries against Shippensburg in the semis, sparked the offense, while flanker Kristen Schmitz ignited the defense. The eventual Woman of the Match was all over the field, and her pressure on the backline shut down Bloomsburg's typically dangerous halfback combination.

Bloomsburg still led 7-5, but quickly after the subsequent kickoff, Kutztown controlled possession and sent prop Kate Ludwick over for the go-ahead try, 10-7. No. 8 Hughes’ try and flyhalf Mary Cate Matta’s conversion and penalty pushed Kutztown’s lead to 20-7 into the break.

Bloomsburg was not out of the game yet, but the second half saw Kutztown’s dangerous speed further stress the defense. Outside center Tabetha Super scored twice, while wing Payton McCord and Hughes – who is deceptively fast – also scored. Matta added a conversion and penalty before game’s end.

“I was very impressed with Bloomsburg University,” Cobb said. “They gave us all we could handle.  Their forwards were tough and mobile, and their backline was a threat all day.  In the end we went back to our system and things worked out for us.

“It was nice to finally get a win in the Championship game,” Cobb added. “We had been here the previous two years and lost both years by a combined two points.  Those loses were tough on the team and I don't think the girls were going to let that happen again.”

Cobb was thoroughly pleased with the team’s performance and will face a very eager Stonehill in Saturday’s Round of 16. The teams met in the Sweet 16 last year, and Kutztown had to overcome a 15-5 deficit before pulling ahead for a 28-point win.

Bloomsburg will play Marist, which defeated Coast Guard 35-3 in its Round of 32 match. The two will play at Dartmouth College, while Kutztown and Stonehill will meet at Vassar.

View the brackets in its entirety here.