Meet the National Champions
 

Saturday Nov 17, 2007 
Stonehill - 68 Canisius – 0  

On a cold Saturday morning, National Semi-final #1 was played at home in front of an enthusiastic crowd.  In their single most impressive performance of the year, the ladies came out and absolutely dominated the first half.  Wonderful phases of ball possession and some timely passing set girls free time and time again behind the Canisius back-line.  Senior captain Meg Hart and Junior Shaila Cavanaugh each scored within the first 10 minutes to put Stonehill up 10-0 and set the early tone. Junior Melissa Moylan touched one down in between two more Cavanaugh tries to up the score to 27-0 midway through the first half.  Canisius battled hard, and their experienced scrum-half’s constant up and under kicks caused some problems for the home team, but a score apiece from the talented freshman tandem of Katie O’Malley and Ashley George put the game out of reach at the half 37-0.  The second half saw excellent efforts from the likes of Seniors Alissa Gillis, Mary Vincent, Kaitlyn Quinn, Kara Rossetti, Deidre Regan and Katie Draper, helping Stonehill control the run of play time and time again, enabling the team to get all their possible subs in, keeping most of the starters fresh and healthy for the Final.

Sunday Nov 18, 2007
Stonehill – 43 Marist – 0

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in front of the largest home crowd to ever witness a Stonehill Women’s Rugby match, the ladies willed themselves to the National Championship.  Playing an extremely tough and hard hitting Marist team, Stonehill took some heavy shots from the visitors, but eventually would not be denied.  Junior Sara Shea put the home team up 5-0 early, with a heads up move off a goal line ruck.  Picking the ball she split three defenders in one quick motion as she was able to touch it down to the delight of the home crowd.  15 minutes later freshman Katie O’Malley slipped free from the defense down the left side, scoring untouched to make the score 10-0 20 minutes into the contest.  The last 20 minutes was back and forth, with the final ten a fantastic goal line stand by the stingy Marist defense, keeping the lead at 10 heading into the half.  Stonehill came out with a sense of urgency in the second half, knowing that only 40 minutes stood between them and their second straight undefeated championship season.  10 minutes in O’Malley broke a long run down the right sideline, touching down in the corner to extend the lead.  Just a few minutes later, Senior Kaitlyn Quinn broke free from a beautiful rolling maul, and when Junior Shaila Cavanaugh converted, the huge crowd and home team could sense they were near.  Senior Deidre Regan touched one down off a beautiful goal line feed from the captain Meg Hart, and after Cavanaugh converted, the score now had ballooned to 29-0.  Hart was then the recipient of some nice ball movement to score herself, and the finishing touches were put on by last year’s MVP Melissa Moylan as she crashed through on a penalty play to push the final score to 43-0 after Cavanaugh converted both scores.  The team had so many contributions from the outstanding catching and running of sophomore fullback Jill McGrath, to the timely distribution and settling play from senior scrumhalf Alissa Gillis.  Defensively freshman Ashley George and Juniors Kathleen Early and Jen Ward were outstanding making tackle after tackle for the victors.  Freshman O’Malley was named MVP of the championship match, but it was obvious that it was a victory that the whole team had earned together.  Over their amazing three year run, culminating in their second straight DIII Women’s Collegiate National Championship, The ladies won an amazing 33 straight games, a feat that may not be matched any time soon.  Knowing that defense wins championships, the fact that they allowed a scant 15 points the whole season, and just 25 points over the last 12 playoff games, explains much of their success.  A total team effort, with everyone on the team contributing in a huge way over the course of the season, they have so much to be proud of, as they accept promotion to DII for the 08-09 season.    

                                                       Women's Rugby
                                                Fall 2007 Regular Season

Friday, Sept. 21	Home vs Springfield	7:30pm	Final          Stonehill  72    Springfield 0
Flanker Shaila Cavanaugh scored twice and converted 4 scores amassing 18 points scored in the Stonehill Women’s Rugby Home opener. In front of a large Friday night crowd the ladies began defense of their ’06-’07 National title by running past an over matched Springfield College team. Fellow Flanker Melissa Moylan score three more tries for the home team as they jumped out to a 48-0 halftime lead, cruising to their first win of the  season extending their unbeaten streak to 24 games.
Friday, Sept. 28	Home vs Wentworth	7:30pm	Final           Stonehill  59     Wentworth 0
Once again the Stonehill Women jumped all over their opponent from the get go. This time the ladies scored seven first half tries to lead a game Wentworth team 49-0 at the half. Flanker Shaila Cavanaugh set a Stonehill record by converting all seven first half tries while scoring three of those herself, as she totaled an amazing 29 points scored. Captain Meg Hart led a stellar defensive effort as Wentworth never really threatened Stonehill’s goal line. Freshman, Katie O’Malley, was joined by sophomore, Caitlin Nunan, both scoring two tries in the victory, while Juniors, Sara Shea, and Mckenzie Flynn each added 1 try apiece in the victory.
Friday, Oct. 5	@ Bentley	7:00pm	Final           Stonehill  24     Bentley   0
In a tough match with a playoff atmosphere Stonehill won their 26th consecutive match under the lights at Bentley. With the 24-0 score not indicative of the tightness of the contest, the women’s defensive prowess was once again on display as they shut down the high scoring Bentley team, while recording their third shutout on the season. The Forward pack consisting of Kaitlyn Quinn, Jen Ward, Sara Shea, Kara Rossetti, Kathleen Early, Mckenzie Flynn Shaila Cavanaugh and Mary Vincent, were once again in dominant form as they as they tackled, rucked and simply willed the team to victory. With the game a possible preview of a playoff match-up down the road, Stonehill led 12-0 at half with two tries and one conversion coming from the junior Cavanaugh. Second half tries by Cavanaugh and freshman Katie O’Malley put the game out of reach against the tough Bentley team.
Sat. Oct. 13	@ Tufts	1:00 pm	Final           Stonehill  41     Tufts  5
The ladies upped their amazing win streak total to 27 straight as they defeated a game Tufts squad 41-5 at Tufts field in Medford. First half tries by Shaila Cavanaugh, Sara Shea and Mary Vincent allowed Stonehill to head into the halftime break up 19-0. The second half was a hard fought continuation of the first half with Tufts refusing to give in, continually battling into Stonehill side of the field only to get denied by the ladies tremendous defense. Scores by Cavanaugh, Mckenzie Flynn, Katie O’Malley and Captain Meg Hart put the game away until late in the second half when Tufts charged through with a try to complete the days scoring. The ladies finish regular season play under the lights Friday night against Wheaton. Come out and celebrate “Senior night” with the team as we thank the seniors for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the last 4 years.
Fri. Oct. 19	Home vs Wheaton	7:30pm	Final           Stonehill  48     Wheaton  0
The ladies finished off the regular season in style with a 48-0 victory over visiting Wheaton College, Friday night. Played in an absolute downpour at times, Stonehill jumped out 24-0 in the first half and never looked back. Senior captain Meg Hart again led the way with two tries with junior Shaila Cavanaugh adding two herself.  Freshman Ashley George, Katie O’Malley, and Junior McKenzie Flynn each added solo tries as the ladies won their 28th straight game on senior night. The seniors, who started their careers 0-6, now have a record of 28-6 with a New England, Northeast Regional, and National championship under their belt. Seniors are as follows:  "Meggie" Hart, Alissa "Gillie" Gillis, Jade "Jadeski" Franco, Jen "Barcus" Barcus, Katie "Drapes" Draper, Kira "On time" Hulse, Shannon "Shannie" McDermott, Janelle "Jaypro" Provencher, Katelyn Mary "Quinny" Quinn, Deidre "Deedles" Regan, Kara "Ice Box" Rossetti, and Mary "Stonewall" Vincent. The ladies take to the field this Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30pm in a quarterfinal match against a tough URI squad, who finished 4-1 outscoring their opponents 258-24 in the process. This will be a battle of last years Div III and Div IV national champions, as Stonehill and URI each respectively conquered their division, with URI moving up to DIII for the start of this season.
2007 New England Playoffs
Fri. Oct. 26	Home vs URI	7:30pm	Final           Stonehill  27     URI  0
On a beautiful Friday night in front of their home fans the ladies upped their winning streak to 29 games.  Against a tough URI side the ladies dominated most of the first half but were only able to score three times en route to a 17-0 lead at the break.  Freshman Ashley George scored on a long run down the outside of the URI defense just three minutes into the game and Shaila Cavanaugh converted giving the home side a quick 7-0 lead.  George tallied another long run midway through the half, and Captain Meg Hart closed out the half with a nice cutback run off of a ruck to extend the lead.   The second half was much the same as Stonehill imposed their will against the Rhode Island team time and time again stealing the opponent’s scrums and lineouts.  A third score by George completed her hat trick on the evening, while senior Kara Rossetti finished the scoring, barreling over the line from five meters out. The Ladies travel to Roger Williams this weekend (Nov. 3-4) to try and defend their New England Crown.  New England Semi-final #1 will take place at 11am and pits Stonehill against Tufts University .
Sat.. Nov. 3	@ Tufts	7:30pm	Final           Stonehill  44     Tufts  0
Consecutive win number 30 for the ladies came in one of their best performances ever, in a tropical storm in Bristol Rhode Island .  Playing in the New England semi-finals for the second consecutive year, Stonehill won the toss and took the 40mph wind in their face, hoping to hold off the Tufts side for the half, until they could get the wind in the second half.  Five minutes in the score was 5-0, and at the end of the half it was 29-0.  In an amazing display of rugby Stonehill could do no wrong as they repeatedly marched down the field at will through the wind and rain, scoring five times in the half.  The second half was much the same as the ladies upped the score to 44-0 with twenty minutes to go then coasted the rest of the way, preparing themselves for the New England Championship the next day.
Sat.. Nov. 3	@ Bryant	7:30pm	Final           Stonehill  27     Bryant 10
The New England Championship at Colt State Park in Bristol Rhode Island , was one of the tougher matches the ladies have seen in the past years, but their will and determination saw them through.  Trailing for the first time all season, 3-0 they methodically worked the ball into the Bryant end, when Senior captain Meg Hart slipped weak side off a scrum, to put Stonehill up 5-3.  Playing a tough team that constantly slowed the ball, Stonehill finally got some breathing room when Junior Flanker Melissa Moylan bolted left after a Bryant penalty, touching down in the corner for a 10-3 half-time lead.  Early in the second half, Junior Flanker Shaila Cavanaugh put the ladies up 12 as she scored in the right corner off another Bryant penalty, and when freshman inside center Katie O’Malley touched down off a pass from senior Deidre Regan, the score reached 20-3.  On the ensuing kick-off, Senior Kara Rossetti gathered the ball, flipped to Moylan who off-loaded to Cavanaugh who sprinted untouched 60 meters down the sideline to put the game out of reach.  Bryant continued to fight hard, and scored in the final ten minutes to make the final score 27-10, but at the final whistle, Stonehill once again was champion..  Congratulations to The Ladies for all their hard work and dedication, they are now repeat champions in DIII New England and have earned an automatic bid into the DIII National Final Four which will be held on their home field on Saturday and Sunday, Nov 17-18.  The first semi-final kicks of at 10am and pits Stonehill against Canisius.