The University of Mary Washington women's rugby team traveled to Virginia Commonwealth University to secure the win in their final 15s regular season match on Saturday in Richmond, Va., 33-26.

UMW had overall possession in the first half. About seven minutes in, a penalty was awarded to the Eagles after a VCU player played the ball on the ground. The UMW forwards set up in pods in response, and sophomore Ava Barnes crashed hard five meters out for the first try of the match. The first conversion kick for UMW was not made. 

Thirteen minutes into the first half, VCU scored their first try off a lineout with their #8 running 15 meters through space. VCU's first try was converted. About 15 minutes later, the Rams scored again after a VCU winger found an open gap behind the side of the ruck. The second conversion kick for VCU was made. Possession was retained the majority of the remaining first half by UMW. UMW #8 Ava Barnes scored after a lineout play five meters out 10 minutes before halftime. The second conversion for UMW was accomplished by junior Ava Ward.

VCU scored the first try of the second half with a solid run 70 meters out by their #8. The conversion was not made by VCU. UMW maintained possession afterwards and passed the ball out to sophomore Ella Brown on the wing for a try. Ward converted this as well. 

Ava Barnes scored again shortly after on a second phase off a UMW scrum. The ball was passed to the outside by UMW and brought into a tackle and breakdown. Barnes was quick to run the next phase 12 meters out, breaking through multiple defenders for a hat trick. About 15 minutes later, UMW scored their fifth and final try of the match thanks to agile thinking by sophomore Haley Smith. Smith was on the outside and cut back into space 10 meters from the try zone. Both of these tries by UMW were converted by Ward.

Five minutes before the end of the match, VCU's #8 scored again 35 meters out off a lineout to VCU. VCU's 4th conversion was made. At the end of the match, VCU attempted an 8-man pick of their scrum. VCU's #8 was tackled and brought into the sideline by UMW, resulting in the final whistle. 

UMW Women's Rugby will travel on Saturday, October 25th to compete in the National Collegiate Rugby Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference Division II semifinal against Towson University.