Women's Rugby Team Goes 2-1 at Clarkson Mud Dogs Tournament
Potsdam, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College women's rugby team started their spring season with a bang last weekend, as they competed in the Clarkson Mud Dog 7s Tournament where they finished as runners up.
The first game against host Clarkson saw Nora Leuthauser (Lebanon, NH) score a try just 20 seconds into the game on a forced turnover from the opening possession. Leuthauser scored the team's other try off another turnover and nailed a conversion kick as the Bobcats and the Golden Knights tied 12-12. Paul Smith's College, however, was awarded the victory due to Leuthauser scoring the game's first points.
Game 2 against SUNY Oswego started well with a 10-7 first half lead for the Bobcats as Leuthauser and Ashlee Laemlein (Rochester, NY) both scored tries. The second half saw the Lakers score two more tries and a conversion kick to take the 19-10 win as the Bobcats moved to 1-1 on the day.
The final game against SUNY Cortland was another close one, with Paul Smith's College earning their second win of the day with a 22-17 victory. Laemlein scored on the opening possession within the first minute of the game to give the Bobcats the lead. Laemlein and Leuthauser would score once more with both teams tied at 17-17 late in the game. With just seconds remaining, Brooke Felton (Westborough, MA) powered her way through the scrum to give the Bobcats the victory in a thrilling ending just before time expired.
This past fall, the Paul Smith's College hired Kyle "Manji" Alexanian to coach the team. His presence has been a welcome addition to the program. "Over the past 4 years, our team has had some ups and downs, and going from a coach to coaching/playing for a whole year myself to getting a coach again has been a huge game changer for this team," said Leuthauser, a graduating senior who has been the lynchpin of the program.
The Bobcats continue their season this weekend as they travel to Albany, NY to compete in the Albany Law Tournament.
You can follow the women's rugby team on Instagram at @pscwomensrugby or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for schedules, updates, photos, and much more!
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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.
