Army West Point Athletics
Friday, November 13
West Point, NY
5 PM
Army West Point
vs
Navy
Women’s Rugby Welcomes Navy in Season Finale
November 12, 2015 | Women's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Competing in the final regular season action of the fall 15s season, the Army West Point women's rugby team will host service academy rival Navy, under the lights at Anderson Rugby Complex on Friday.
Kickoff with the Midshipmen is slated for 5 p.m. ET with the game to be broadcast live on Knight Vision.
TICKETS & PARKING
Admission to Anderson Rugby Complex is free to the public. Tickets are not required. Fans are encouraged to park along the fence line surrounding Anderson Rugby Complex on Upton Road. Parking will also be available along Upton Road by Shea Stadium and Gillis Field House. Only authorized and handicapped vehicles will be permitted to park inside of Anderson Rugby Complex.
HOW TO FOLLOW
A live stream of the game will be provided by Knight Vision, with Nikoli Busko on the call. Fans can purchase a 24-hour pass to Knight Vision for $6.95, a monthly subscription for $9.95 or a yearlong plan for $79.95. Follow the link here to purchase a subscription.
As always, fans can visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for up-to-date information and follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_WRugby for live updates.
THE GAME
The Army West Point women's rugby team will return to Anderson Rugby Complex for a 5 p.m. meeting with service academy rival Navy in the final regular season competition of the season. The Black Knights enter the match with a record of 6-4, having finished conference play with a mark of 5-1. Army is coming off of a 43-0 blowout over Air Force on the road last weekend.
This will be the third meeting between these two teams in 15s action since the Black Knights joined the Army Athletic Association prior to the start of the 2014 season. Army is 2-0 against the Midshipmen, outscoring Navy by a margin of 66.5-16.
"We're not looking too bad," said head coach Bill LeClerc. "We've got a few little nagging injuries, a couple of girls that won't be able to start. That's alright, we'll fill in. That's one of the advantage of having a long season is that you get time and opportunity to see lots of girls perform and they get an idea of what they have to do to prepare themselves to get ready. I think we're going to be fine.
"It's going to be a big weekend with Navy on Friday and Harvard on Sunday, so it's going to be a lot of player management and we'll have to see how things play out. I think we'll be able to put two good squads out in three days and I'm really looking forward to it."
ARMY'S LAST TIME OUT
The Black Knights are coming off of an impressive 43-0 road victory over service academy rival Air Force on Saturday morning.
Six different Black Knights found the scoresheet on the morning as the team bested the Flacons for the second consecutive year in 15s action.
"It took a while to find our rhythm, but everyone stuck together and stuck to the plan and by the second half we started firing on all cylinders," said head coach Bill LeClerc. "They worked really well together and it was pleasing to see them get a really, well-deserved win."
The game got off to a slow start, as neither team was able to find the try zone until the 31st minute when Nicola Newton dotted down to put Army up 5-0.
Jessica Maddox earned her first try of the season in the 43rd minute with Olivia Lopes connecting on the conversion to take the 12-0 lead. Savannah Murray scored three minutes later, as Lopes booted her second conversion, to send Army into the break with the 19-0 lead.
Army came out strong in the second half, as Tay Jessop scored her first of the morning in the 63rd minute. Lopes connected on the kick and Army earned the 26-0 advantage. Jessop would score again seven minutes later, with Lopes adding the conversion, to put the Black Knights up by a score of 33-0
Kaley Rose would dot down in the 73rd and Newton would find the try zone again in the 80th minute, as Army earned the 43-0 victory.
ARMY-NAVY: THE LAST TIME OUT
Army last squared off with the Midshipmen in the consolation round of the American Collegiate Rugby Association (ACRA) Sweet 16. In that contest, army earned a 72-12 victory to conclude the 15s season.
The last regular season meeting between the two squads came on Oct. 18, 2014 when the Black Knights captured a 61-20 road win over the Midshipmen. In that outing, seven different Black Knights contributed points, led by three tries from Kate Roose and a total of 12 points from the boot of Carissa Pekny. In addition, Tranelle Patterson and Allison Wilson each posted two tries, while Lindy Clark, Kelsey Jang and Erin Moore would dot down once.
ARMY VERSUS SERVICE ACADEMIES
The Black Knights have been dominant in service academy battles during the 15s season since the team's transition to varsity status. With a total of four contests with Air Force and Navy, the Black Knights have yet to fall, earning a pair of wins over the Falcons and a pair over the Midshipmen.
Army earned its first service academy win in a 61-20 sinking of Navy on Oct. 18, 2014, before moving on to ground Air Force in a 29-7 win from Anderson Rugby Complex on Halloween. The Black Knights bounced the Midshipmen from the consolation round of the ACRA Tournament in 2014 with a 72-12 win. So far this season, Army is 1-0 in service academy battles, having downed Air Force 43-0 last weekend.
SENIOR NIGHT
During Friday's contest, the Black Knights will honor a total of eight firsties, including seven players and one manager. Army will pay tribute to Mariah Caid-Loos, Marissa Caid-Loos, Lindy Clark, Allie McDonald, Chioma Odocha, Carissa Pekny, Kaeleigh Warfield and Hannah Jones for their contributions to the women's rugby program. Army will also honor junior Tranelle Patterson, who is competing in her final season of eligibility.
"This group of girls have been absolutely phenomenal," said LeClerc. "When I first came in they were my plebe class that I recruited, so I'm pretty emotionally attached to them. It's been awesome to see them develop, not just as rugby players but as leaders, and to get to this point it's pretty satisfying."
CRITTINGTON NAMED AAA ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Entering the game in the early portion of the first half, following an injury to the team's vice-captain, Zye Crittington scored three tries in the Army West Point women's rugby team's 68-15 victory over Norwich. For her efforts, Crittington has been named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week.
Sidelined due to injury, vice-captain Chioma Odocha left the contest early, forcing Crittington into the game at an unfamiliar position. Generally an inside center, Crittington quickly adapted to the wing position, dotting down in the 29th, 44th and 48th minutes.
The tries marked the second, third and fourth, scored in the plebe's young career, as she earned her first collegiate try in the win over American International two weeks prior.
CLARK GARNERS AAA RECOGNITION
Three first half scores in the Army West Point women's rugby team's 43-17 victory over conference rival Norwich earned firstie Lindy Clark Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week recognition.
This is the first career AAA Athlete of the Week honor for Clark and the second consecutive week in which a member of the women's rugby team has earned the distinction.
Clark opened up the scoring for the Black Knights in the eighth minute, cutting the Norwich lead to 10-5. She scored again in the 11th minute to tie the game, as teammate Nicole Heavirland converted the score to put Army up 12-10.
The Cadets regained the lead with a try and conversion in the 16th minute, but Clark's third try of the afternoon in the 37th minute tied it up once again. Heavirland converted her second kick of the afternoon to send the Black Knights into the half with the two-point advantage. From that point on, Army held Norwich off the scoresheet, earning its first win over the national powerhouse in 15s action.
HEAVIRLAND COPS AAA HONORS
After leading the Army West Point women's rugby squad to a 29-24 victory over conference foe Quinnipiac, Heavirland was named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week on Sept. 14.
This is the first AAA Athlete of the Week nod of the season and second of her career for Heavirland.
Competing in her first collegiate 15s game, Heavirland scored the opening try of the game for the Black Knights in the 38th minute of action, sending Army into the break down 14-7.
With the Bobcats holding a 24-12 advantage mid-way through the second half, Heavirland began her scoring onslaught, rattling off three straight tries in the 61st, 69th and 82nd minutes.
In the 69th minute she tied the game at 24-24 after successfully converting her own try. With stoppage time expiring, she found the try zone in the 82nd minute to put the Black Knights on top 29-24 and ensure the win.
In total, the Whitefish, Mont., native accounted for 22 of the team's 29 points on the afternoon.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
Leading the 2015-16 squad will be captain Mariah Caid-Loos and vice-captain Odocha.
Caid-Loos posted four tries in 15s action in the 2014-15 season before falling to injury. Odocha earned three tries in 15s action and four on the 7s pitch.
Since the start of the 2015-16 year, Caid-Loos has posted one score, while Odocha has earned three.
CLASS RINGS
The Class of 2016 received their class rings in a ceremony held at Trophy Point on Aug. 28, 2015. A time-honored West Point tradition, the Class of 2016's rings contain gold from 356 West Point graduates donated to the West Point Association of Graduates in addition to steel melted down from the World Trade Center.
UP NEXT
Army will get playoff action underway on Sunday as the Black Knights host the first round of the National Collegiate Women's Varsity Rugby Association (NCWVRA) Championships. Seeded second in the Northeast Conference, the Black Knights will face the Ivy League's No. 3 Harvard. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. ET from Anderson Rugby Complex.
A win would advance Army into the semifinals, where it would face the winner of Ivy No. 1 Dartmouth and Northeast No. 4 Norwich. That match would take place on Friday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. with the final to follow on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.
"I don't think the quick turnaround really affects them too much, to be fair," added LeClerc. "Just telling them that there's eight days left and four games to go and then we're done with the season, but not to really hurry and be excited to get to the end, but let's get to the end in the right way. We're trying to break it down and we'll worry about Navy, finish Navy up on Friday, rest Saturday and then prepare again for Harvard on Sunday. Then put that one to bed and we have to worry about whoever we have to play in the semifinals or finals, presuming that we get past Harvard first. I don't want to be too presumptuous, but I think we should be fine there."
Kickoff with the Midshipmen is slated for 5 p.m. ET with the game to be broadcast live on Knight Vision.
TICKETS & PARKING
Admission to Anderson Rugby Complex is free to the public. Tickets are not required. Fans are encouraged to park along the fence line surrounding Anderson Rugby Complex on Upton Road. Parking will also be available along Upton Road by Shea Stadium and Gillis Field House. Only authorized and handicapped vehicles will be permitted to park inside of Anderson Rugby Complex.
HOW TO FOLLOW
A live stream of the game will be provided by Knight Vision, with Nikoli Busko on the call. Fans can purchase a 24-hour pass to Knight Vision for $6.95, a monthly subscription for $9.95 or a yearlong plan for $79.95. Follow the link here to purchase a subscription.
As always, fans can visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for up-to-date information and follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_WRugby for live updates.
THE GAME
The Army West Point women's rugby team will return to Anderson Rugby Complex for a 5 p.m. meeting with service academy rival Navy in the final regular season competition of the season. The Black Knights enter the match with a record of 6-4, having finished conference play with a mark of 5-1. Army is coming off of a 43-0 blowout over Air Force on the road last weekend.
This will be the third meeting between these two teams in 15s action since the Black Knights joined the Army Athletic Association prior to the start of the 2014 season. Army is 2-0 against the Midshipmen, outscoring Navy by a margin of 66.5-16.
"We're not looking too bad," said head coach Bill LeClerc. "We've got a few little nagging injuries, a couple of girls that won't be able to start. That's alright, we'll fill in. That's one of the advantage of having a long season is that you get time and opportunity to see lots of girls perform and they get an idea of what they have to do to prepare themselves to get ready. I think we're going to be fine.
"It's going to be a big weekend with Navy on Friday and Harvard on Sunday, so it's going to be a lot of player management and we'll have to see how things play out. I think we'll be able to put two good squads out in three days and I'm really looking forward to it."
ARMY'S LAST TIME OUT
The Black Knights are coming off of an impressive 43-0 road victory over service academy rival Air Force on Saturday morning.
Six different Black Knights found the scoresheet on the morning as the team bested the Flacons for the second consecutive year in 15s action.
"It took a while to find our rhythm, but everyone stuck together and stuck to the plan and by the second half we started firing on all cylinders," said head coach Bill LeClerc. "They worked really well together and it was pleasing to see them get a really, well-deserved win."
The game got off to a slow start, as neither team was able to find the try zone until the 31st minute when Nicola Newton dotted down to put Army up 5-0.
Jessica Maddox earned her first try of the season in the 43rd minute with Olivia Lopes connecting on the conversion to take the 12-0 lead. Savannah Murray scored three minutes later, as Lopes booted her second conversion, to send Army into the break with the 19-0 lead.
Army came out strong in the second half, as Tay Jessop scored her first of the morning in the 63rd minute. Lopes connected on the kick and Army earned the 26-0 advantage. Jessop would score again seven minutes later, with Lopes adding the conversion, to put the Black Knights up by a score of 33-0
Kaley Rose would dot down in the 73rd and Newton would find the try zone again in the 80th minute, as Army earned the 43-0 victory.
ARMY-NAVY: THE LAST TIME OUT
Army last squared off with the Midshipmen in the consolation round of the American Collegiate Rugby Association (ACRA) Sweet 16. In that contest, army earned a 72-12 victory to conclude the 15s season.
The last regular season meeting between the two squads came on Oct. 18, 2014 when the Black Knights captured a 61-20 road win over the Midshipmen. In that outing, seven different Black Knights contributed points, led by three tries from Kate Roose and a total of 12 points from the boot of Carissa Pekny. In addition, Tranelle Patterson and Allison Wilson each posted two tries, while Lindy Clark, Kelsey Jang and Erin Moore would dot down once.
ARMY VERSUS SERVICE ACADEMIES
The Black Knights have been dominant in service academy battles during the 15s season since the team's transition to varsity status. With a total of four contests with Air Force and Navy, the Black Knights have yet to fall, earning a pair of wins over the Falcons and a pair over the Midshipmen.
Army earned its first service academy win in a 61-20 sinking of Navy on Oct. 18, 2014, before moving on to ground Air Force in a 29-7 win from Anderson Rugby Complex on Halloween. The Black Knights bounced the Midshipmen from the consolation round of the ACRA Tournament in 2014 with a 72-12 win. So far this season, Army is 1-0 in service academy battles, having downed Air Force 43-0 last weekend.
SENIOR NIGHT
During Friday's contest, the Black Knights will honor a total of eight firsties, including seven players and one manager. Army will pay tribute to Mariah Caid-Loos, Marissa Caid-Loos, Lindy Clark, Allie McDonald, Chioma Odocha, Carissa Pekny, Kaeleigh Warfield and Hannah Jones for their contributions to the women's rugby program. Army will also honor junior Tranelle Patterson, who is competing in her final season of eligibility.
"This group of girls have been absolutely phenomenal," said LeClerc. "When I first came in they were my plebe class that I recruited, so I'm pretty emotionally attached to them. It's been awesome to see them develop, not just as rugby players but as leaders, and to get to this point it's pretty satisfying."
CRITTINGTON NAMED AAA ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Entering the game in the early portion of the first half, following an injury to the team's vice-captain, Zye Crittington scored three tries in the Army West Point women's rugby team's 68-15 victory over Norwich. For her efforts, Crittington has been named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week.
Sidelined due to injury, vice-captain Chioma Odocha left the contest early, forcing Crittington into the game at an unfamiliar position. Generally an inside center, Crittington quickly adapted to the wing position, dotting down in the 29th, 44th and 48th minutes.
The tries marked the second, third and fourth, scored in the plebe's young career, as she earned her first collegiate try in the win over American International two weeks prior.
CLARK GARNERS AAA RECOGNITION
Three first half scores in the Army West Point women's rugby team's 43-17 victory over conference rival Norwich earned firstie Lindy Clark Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week recognition.
This is the first career AAA Athlete of the Week honor for Clark and the second consecutive week in which a member of the women's rugby team has earned the distinction.
Clark opened up the scoring for the Black Knights in the eighth minute, cutting the Norwich lead to 10-5. She scored again in the 11th minute to tie the game, as teammate Nicole Heavirland converted the score to put Army up 12-10.
The Cadets regained the lead with a try and conversion in the 16th minute, but Clark's third try of the afternoon in the 37th minute tied it up once again. Heavirland converted her second kick of the afternoon to send the Black Knights into the half with the two-point advantage. From that point on, Army held Norwich off the scoresheet, earning its first win over the national powerhouse in 15s action.
HEAVIRLAND COPS AAA HONORS
After leading the Army West Point women's rugby squad to a 29-24 victory over conference foe Quinnipiac, Heavirland was named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week on Sept. 14.
This is the first AAA Athlete of the Week nod of the season and second of her career for Heavirland.
Competing in her first collegiate 15s game, Heavirland scored the opening try of the game for the Black Knights in the 38th minute of action, sending Army into the break down 14-7.
With the Bobcats holding a 24-12 advantage mid-way through the second half, Heavirland began her scoring onslaught, rattling off three straight tries in the 61st, 69th and 82nd minutes.
In the 69th minute she tied the game at 24-24 after successfully converting her own try. With stoppage time expiring, she found the try zone in the 82nd minute to put the Black Knights on top 29-24 and ensure the win.
In total, the Whitefish, Mont., native accounted for 22 of the team's 29 points on the afternoon.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
Leading the 2015-16 squad will be captain Mariah Caid-Loos and vice-captain Odocha.
Caid-Loos posted four tries in 15s action in the 2014-15 season before falling to injury. Odocha earned three tries in 15s action and four on the 7s pitch.
Since the start of the 2015-16 year, Caid-Loos has posted one score, while Odocha has earned three.
CLASS RINGS
The Class of 2016 received their class rings in a ceremony held at Trophy Point on Aug. 28, 2015. A time-honored West Point tradition, the Class of 2016's rings contain gold from 356 West Point graduates donated to the West Point Association of Graduates in addition to steel melted down from the World Trade Center.
UP NEXT
Army will get playoff action underway on Sunday as the Black Knights host the first round of the National Collegiate Women's Varsity Rugby Association (NCWVRA) Championships. Seeded second in the Northeast Conference, the Black Knights will face the Ivy League's No. 3 Harvard. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. ET from Anderson Rugby Complex.
A win would advance Army into the semifinals, where it would face the winner of Ivy No. 1 Dartmouth and Northeast No. 4 Norwich. That match would take place on Friday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. with the final to follow on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.
"I don't think the quick turnaround really affects them too much, to be fair," added LeClerc. "Just telling them that there's eight days left and four games to go and then we're done with the season, but not to really hurry and be excited to get to the end, but let's get to the end in the right way. We're trying to break it down and we'll worry about Navy, finish Navy up on Friday, rest Saturday and then prepare again for Harvard on Sunday. Then put that one to bed and we have to worry about whoever we have to play in the semifinals or finals, presuming that we get past Harvard first. I don't want to be too presumptuous, but I think we should be fine there."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
/ Women's Rugby
Army vs Sacred Heart
Saturday, November 05
Army vs Harvard
Saturday, October 29
Army vs LIU
Friday, October 14
Army vs Mount St Mary's
Saturday, September 03