The University of Mary Washington women's rugby team travelled to Maryland on Saturday, October 24th, 2026 to face Towson University in one of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference semifinal matches. The team similarly squared up against Towson in October 2025 during a conference semifinal, falling short in sudden death overtime, 19-22.  

In the initial minutes of the match, Towson maintained possession. At the fifth minute, junior Jo Lent intercepted a pass between Towson centers. Lent sprinted 95 meters for a try. This try was converted by senior fullback Ava Ward.  

The Eagles struggled to maintain possession in the minutes that followed. A strong attacking maul from Towson led them to distribute the ball to their wing, who scored twenty meters out around the 19-minute. Their first try was converted. 

About three minutes later, a penalty was awarded to UMW for Towson not keeping their feet in a ruck. UMW forwards set up an attacking formation. The ball was tapped and distributed to junior 8-man Lexi Krug who broke Towson's defensive line and swept through two tackle attempts. Krug ran 70 meters for a try, converted again by Ava Ward. 

UMW obtained more possession later in the first half. However, a penalty to Towson in the last minute of the half led the Tigers to dish the ball to their flyhalf, who faked a pass and found space 15 meters out for a try. Their second try was converted. The halftime score had the teams tied up, 14-14.  

In the second half, Towson was able to exploit ball presentation errors by the Eagles. 11 minutes in, Towson's forwards attacked within five meters of their try zone. UMW was able to keep them out of their territory for multiple phases. Despite this effort, Towson's scrumhalf passed the ball to their flyhalf who found space for another try. Their third try was converted. 

About ten minutes later, the Tigers touched down again from phases within five meters. Their fourth try was converted. 

Mary Washington Women's Rugby responded with seven minutes left in the second half. UMW junior captain and flyhalf, Greta Giese, recovered a dropped ball and ran 50 meters. She was tackled five meters out from scoring, but junior wing Margrethe Brooks was able to recover the ball from the tackle and dished it out to flanker CJ Jenkins. CJ's try was touched down on the edge of the field, and Ward made another perfectly placed conversion from the outside. The Eagles were putting pressure on the Tigers, now down by one try.  

In the final minutes of the game, Towson was awarded a penalty five meters out from their try zone. A couple of strong phases led them to attack and score on the outside of a ruck. Their last try was converted. With no time remaining, the Tigers kicked the ball out in open play to secure their win, defeating the Eagles, 21-35. 

UMW Women's Rugby was eligible to play in a third-place consolation match for the conference. However, one of the teams in the other semifinal had to drop out. This automatically made the Eagles the third-place team for 15s competition in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference.  

The team now sets their sights in preparing and competing in 7s competition this spring. Be on the lookout on this website, Instagram: @umwrugby, and the team's Facebook page: Mary Washington Women's Rugby, for updates.