HENNIKER, N.H. – The Manhattanville College women's rugby team made their way back up north this past weekend, playing a pair of sevens matches against New England College. The Valiants went 1-1 on the day against the Pilgrims on Sunday, taking the opener in comeback fashion before being edged out in match two.
Game One Recap: Manhattanville 19, NEC 17
It was a fast start by the host Pilgrims in the opener as New England would build out a 12-0 first half lead. Tries by Ari Hamilton and Bree Vidal followed by a successful conversion by Rebecca Eaton had New England College sitting pretty on the verge of a first half shutout. However, the Valiants fought hard to get on the board just before the break as Sydney Natale (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) broke off a long run to score a try and cut the deficit down to seven at 12-5 at the half.

Resuming play for the second, Kesai Butler (White Plains, N.Y. /Woodlands) recorded her first try of the match with a 20-yard run before nailing the conversion attempt to knot the game up at 12-12. Soon after, Sokhna Gaye (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon ) made a bid for the try zone, but the ball was knocked loose in the ensuing maul. The ball was collected by Natale who ran it in for her second try of the contest before Butler converted once again to give the Valiants their first least at 19-12. Down but not out, the Pilgrims made one last push with a try as time expired by Kyla Doan, but the ensuing conversion attempt was no good, giving the Valiants the 19-17 win.

Game Two Recap: Manhattanville 12, NEC 29
New England got off to another quick start in the second contest, as Vidal broke a couple of Valiant tackle attempts en route to the opening try. The conversion attempt by Eaton was good, before the sophomore added a try of her own for New England soon after putting the Pilgrims up 12-0. Manhattanville responded as Natale returned the ensuing kickoff, passing a perfect ball to Tomoka Askuma who finished the remaining 60 yards down the field to get the Vals on the board. Before the half concluded, Natale struck again while breaking multiple tackles into the try zone with her third score of the day. Butler nailed the conversion through the uprights to send the games to the half even at 12-12.

The Valiants would not have a second half response to New England's offense, however, as the Pilgrims scored 17 unanswered points to end the game. Hamilton and Vidal combined for all three tries in the second half, earning the split for the Pilgrims with the 29-12 win. 

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