The University of Mary Washington women's rugby team travelled to College Park on Sunday, September 13th, 2026 to face the University of Maryland in their first 15s match of the fall season. 

In the fourth minute, a try was scored by junior wing Jo Lent who grubber kicked a dropped Maryland pass about 10 meters out from the try zone. She grounded the ball for a score. Jo's try was converted by senior fullback Ava Ward. 

About 13 minutes in, a strong counterruck by senior Sage Meyer resulted in a turnover for possession back to the Eagles. Junior Lexi Krug took the point of a forward pod, barreled through Maryland's defense, and scored the second try of the match. Krug's try was also converted by Ward. 

A couple of penalties against UMW later in the first half resulted in lost possession for Mary Wash. A penalty to Maryland 18 minutes in led the Terps to score after two phases of their forwards taking the ball into contact. Their first try was not converted. 

Back and forth possession between both teams ensued late in the first half. In the 35th minute, Maryland's scrumhalf exploited UMW's defense, which was not adequately covered off of a ruck. Their scrumhalf took the ball and scored 15 meters out. This Terp try was converted. After that point, UMW was up by only two points and needed to respond. 

Junior and outside center Haley Smith did just that in the last minute of the half. 20 meters from their attacking try zone, the Eagles had a scrum to them. The backs moved the ball quickly out of the scrum. Seeing that wing Jo Lent had defenders on her, Smith looped to the outside of Lent where Lent was able to pop the ball to Smith for a try. This score was not converted, leaving the halftime score at UMW 19 – 12 Maryland.  

Shortly after the start of the second half, Haley Smith once again scored another beautiful try, juking defenders to find space in the middle 40 meters out. Smith's second try was converted by Ward. 

Afterwards, Maryland kicked off to the Eagles where a bounced ball got back to the Terps. The Eagle's defense was able to turn over the ball for an advantage. Junior Margrethe Brooks scored four phases after the turnover. The backs distributed it quickly out to her on the wing. Brooks' try was not converted. 

Seven minutes later off a penalty to UMW five meters out, Junior Lexi Krug scored her second try of the match off a phase of forwards crashing (try not converted). 

The momentum continued shortly thereafter as quick ball movement from the backs resulted in Josie Johnson scoring on the wing. (try not converted).  

Five minutes later, a penalty quick tap to Maryland resulted in their scrumhalf scoring again (try not converted). 

After receiving a penalty advantage, UMW decided to kick the ball to the line of touch to earn a lineout. The Eagles' forwards created a maul off the lineout, carried by Celine (CJ) Jenkins and set down in the try zone by Lena Hansen. This mauling try was not converted. 

While Maryland had possession, one of their players offloaded to their scrumhalf who scored a third time 30 meters out. This was Maryland's fourth and final score of the match. This try was converted. 

The Eagles maintained possession during the final moments of the match. This allowed senior fullback Ava Ward to take the ball for two tries back-to-back, also converting both of her tries. The final score resulted in the first win of the season for UMW Women's Rugby, 60 – 24 Maryland.