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The University of Maine women’s rugby team continued its impressive play over the weekend. The Black Bears competed in the 22nd annual Beast of the East rugby tournament in Providence, Rhode Island. The team won its first three matches and advanced to the semifinals, where they lost to the eventual champion, Northeastern.
Led by Chantrelle Cousens, who had seven tries on the weekend, the Black Bears put up 94 points in their four matches combined. The Black Bears allowed just 32 points.
After defeating SUNY Albany 24-5 in their first game on Saturday, the Black Bears beat Smith College 41-0. The two wins advanced UMaine to the winner’s bracket on Sunday.
The Black Bears beat RPI 17-0 in the quarterfinals, and came up short against a tough Northeastern team 27-12. The Huskies went home with the tournament championship.
“We went down there with 17 players,” said UMaine head coach Tim Guillerault, “which for a two day tournament is not a lot.”
The team played four matches in 24 hours, which Guillerault said was a lot to ask of his players.
“Northeastern had 35 players,” he said. “All the matches, we were strong. Towards the end of the third match and into the last one, people started getting tired. They kept going, which is what I asked for.”
While UMaine only had 17 players, the team got scores from a lot of different people. Carolyn Kelly and Kylie Newman each scored twice. Jodi Wyman, Rose Itzcovitz, and Meagan Kelly each scored a try as well. Janna Malich scored one try and Sue Harsche scored seven conversion kicks on the weekend.
“Our forward play got even better this weekend,” said Guillerault.”
During the week, UMaine collected several injuries.
“They all threw their bodies out there,” said Guillerault. “That’s a lot of contact.”
Guillerault and his team are looking forward to this weekend in Cumberland, where they will take part in the Maine Cup, which they feel they can win.
“If we get the injuries healed than we’ll be good to go,” said Guillerault.
UMaine is now 5-1 on their spring season. They will face Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, and UMaine-Farmington this weekend to decide the best team in Maine.
No matter how well the Black Bears do on Saturday, they already have proven themselves. Guillerault feels his team brought back a proud tradition of UMaine women’s rugby that has been missing in past semesters.
“We went down there and put Maine women’s rugby back on the map,” he said.
