Defense wins championships, and the Wayne State women’s rugby team proved that once again with a 29-7 win over University of Rochester to win their fifth NSCRO 7’s national title in six years Sunday afternoon at Founders Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Wildcats scored midway through the first half when the Wildcats worked the ball to the far side and Holly Schupbach ran the final 50 yards for the first score of the game.
Wayne State added another score late in the first half after a Sledgehammer turnover, with sisters Brook and May Hoesing teaming up for the score with about a minute left, giving Wayne State a 10-0 lead.
Rochester took advantage of a Wayne State penalty and scored to make it 10-7 at the half, but the Wildcats wasted no time regaining control of the match, scoring in the first minute off a free kick penalty. Kennedy Jones found the try zone and Selma Taylor tacked on the PAT to give Wayne State a 17-7 lead.
Midway through the second half, Wayne State put it out of reach as May Hoesing scored off a scrum with a 40-yard run with three minutes to go, and sister Brook Hoesing sealed the deal with a late 25-yard run to cap the win.
Brook Hoesing and Kennedy Jones were named to the All-Tournament Team, and Jones was named the tournament MVP.
The win marked the second straight year that Wayne State has swept both NSCRO national titles, adding the 15-on-15 title they won last fall. It is Wayne State’s fifth 7-on-7 national title in the six years NSCRO has held the spring-season championship.
