The second DI game of the varsity season occurred between Army and American International College yesterday, and the Cadets put themselves on the winning end of a thrilling 29-26 contest. The Yellow Jackets did well to overcome a two-try deficit in the first half and even briefly took the lead, but a 75^th minute try gave the West Pointers the cushion they needed for the win.

For Army, the victory was particularly satisfying, as the team had lost two single-digit league games to AIC last year.

“It was heart-breaking, because we were so close both times,” Army captain Mariah Caid-Loos remembered 2014. “We were a lot more prepared this season. We had a two-week preseason prior to school, and we worked on our skills and conditioning. Usually, we don’t start until school starts, which is hard to do when you’re trying to break off the rust and also teach the game to the new girls. That was a game-changer for us.”

Speedy Rebecca Stipp opened up with an Army try, the first of the wing’s two scores, and freshman Hannah Whisnant followed. With two Ari Efaw conversions, the visitors led 14-0 after nine minutes.

Twenty minutes in, AIC started to find its rhythm. Kayla Clark turned over possession and fed Ashley Gayle, who rumbled to midfield before finding freshman center Anne-Laurence Harvey. The newcomer showed the pace made famous by older sister Magali, 2014 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, for AIC’s first try. Harvey was successful all day, scoring three tries and kicking three conversions for 21 points.

“There was a lack of communication setting up the line,” said Caid-Loos, who has a good perspective from fullback. “A lot of the forwards got sucked into the ruck, and [Harvey] would find the gap, break through, and run down the line. The game definitely showed us where we need to improve our defensive skills.”

After 33 minutes and Harvey’s second try, the teams were all tied up. But with the first half coming to an end, Stipp got her second try of the day to put Army up 19-14 into the break.

AIC senior Muneera Patton and Efaw traded scores in the second half, and a Harvey conversion closed the point differential to three, 24-21, after 55 minutes. For the next 20 minutes, the teams battered each other for the upper hand.

“The Army pack did an amazing job – won all of our scrums and the majority of theirs,” Caid-Loos said. “They’d steal the ball, turn it into a linebreak, and make huge gains for us.”

No. 8 Allie McDonald and lock Tranelle Patterson were particularly effective in piercing the defense, while U.S. Eagle Nicole Heavirland commanded the backline from flyhalf. At the 75th minute, a crucial score from Army senior Lindy Clark gave the visitors a 29-21 lead.

AIC wasn’t done, and the hard-running Anna Mbengam punctured the line, allowing Harvey to take advantage of a retreating defense for her third try of the game. But AIC needed two scores and ran out of time, 29-26 to West Point.

“We never gave up and played until the final whistle,” Caid-Loos said. “Last year especially, we would get complacent, and in the last minute of play, [opponents] would come back with momentum and score the winning try. We’ve made a point to be mentally focused for 80 minutes.”

With a win to start the season, the Cadets are feeling good. They have a very tough schedule ahead, which includes Quinnipiac on Saturday, Norwich, Lindenwood, Penn State, Life University, Air Force, and Navy.

Army 29
Tries: Stipp 2, Whisnant, Efaw, Clark
Cons: Efaw 2

AIC 26
Tries: Harvey 3, Patton
Cons: Harvey 3