American International College (0-2) gave Norwich (1-0) a run, coming out hard in the DI varsity match Sunday. But the Cadets exerted themselves in the second half and pulled away for the 48-32 win.

“It started off very back and forth,” Norwich captain Hannah Bell informed. “This could have been difficult for our young team, but we showed a lot of resilience and were able to keep taking the lead.”

Norwich coach Austin Hall typically fields a well balanced lineup, getting representatives from each class on the field. The four seniors – Bell, forwards captain Riley Blankenship, Val McGuire, and Emily Colesworthy – are longtime core players, while junior starters Sarah Peyton at prop and Jess Bossler at lock are cycling in for more playing time. Five sophomores and four freshmen comprised the rest of the starting XV.

Additionally, Sunday’s match marked the first time that halfbacks Bell – who slid from flyhalf to scrumhalf this year – and newcomer Bayli Jenski worked together.

“Ultimately, we out-worked them,” Bell said of the winning difference. “We as a team have a lot of tactical work to do – and we are well aware of that – and so we knew in order to win we had to out-work AIC. We scored as a team and defended as a team, and that was the tipping point.”

Bell herself scored two tries, as did sophomore Frankie Sands, who moved from fullback to inside center this fall.

Peyton, flanker Katie Smith, wing Alanna Girardin, and freshman All American Sheila Decker all scored tries, and Jenski converted on four of eight attempts.

With the win, Norwich has kept intact its perfect all-time 15s record against AIC, but the Yellow Jackets have reason to be optimistic this season. The Massachusetts team is 0-2 but played Norwich to a much closer margin than last year, and dropped a three-point game to Army the weekend prior. It will be an all-Cadet affair this weekend, as the West Pointers travel to Vermont for another varsity showdown.