NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The ninth-ranked Norwich University women's rugby team captured a pivotal victory on Saturday afternoon, celebrating Senior Day with an emphatic 27-23 victory against eighth-ranked University of New Hampshire on Sabine Field.

Five different Cadets tallied tries on the day, with Katelyn Looney (Weymouth, Mass.), Octavia Crawford (Shelburne Falls, Mass.), Shannon Hobbs (Burlington, N.C.), Katherine Suarez (Gloucester City, N.J.), and Carlyan Vigbedor (Centreville, Va.) all logging a score apiece.  Madeline Ortiz (Lancaster, Calif.) converted on a kick to round out the offensive effort.

The Wildcats got on the board first, taking an early 10-0 lead before Norwich's offense ignited for 10-straight to tie the contest.  The Cadet onslaught continued, earning one more try before halftime to claim the head.

The University of New Hampshire attempted to trim into Norwich's lead, at one point cutting it down to 20-18, but Looney's try, paired with Ortiz's conversion, gave the Cadets the necessary insurance goal to hold back UNH's final try.

Norwich posted success in the stat sheet, racking up seven winning scrums to go with two lineout victories.  The Cadets forced the Wildcats to two scrum losses and five lineout defeats.

Prior to the game, the women's rugby program honored their 10 senior student-athletes, recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of Emily Battistini (Eastover, N.C.), Brooke Dembkoski (Salem, N.H.), Kate Desautels (Rutland, Mass.), Marissa Gebhardt (Leicester, Mass.), Shannon Hobbs (Burlington, N.C.), Rebecca Klements (Dunbarton, N.H.), Kayleen Koumoue (New Rochelle, N.Y.), Elinah Liaina (Killeen, Texas), Amanda Uggalla (Staten Island, N.Y.), and Amanda Uggalla (Staten Island, N.Y.).  This senior class has led the Cadets through its 40th season as a varsity program at Norwich, which includes the recent transition to the Rugby Northeast Conference within the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) organization.

The Cadets also hosted a 7s second side match against the University of New Hampshire, toppling the Wildcats, 45-10.  Five Cadets scored in this tilt, spearheaded by Sophia Taylor's (Canaan, N.H.) three ties.  Kensey LaCroix (Bagley, Minn.) and Yi-Xuan Ho (Taoyuan, Taiwan) recorded two each, while Lupe Chaves-Linares (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Willow Armstrong (Easley, S.C.) tallied one apiece.

The Cadets will return to the pitch, traveling to the United States Coast Guard Academy for the NCR's premier Friday Night Lights Game on Friday, Oct. 25, taking on the Bears under the lights at 7:00 p.m.