Brown Wins Cross-Divisional Match Over Cornell Women

The Brown Women's team pulled off a solid upset victory at home over Cornell in a cross-divisional showdown this past weekend.

Lucienne “Lucy” Fernandez ‘14 started the game off on the right foot for Brown, getting the ball into the midfield for scrumhalf Amber Reano ‘16 where the forwards took the opportunity to run against the Cornell backs hopefully to contain them and release their own Brown backs.  Several rucks with Brown forwards dominating and keeping possession led to Lucy Fernandez ‘14 getting the ball at the attacking 40yd line standing at first receiver and then sending it immediately to the backline.  At 8:00, Elena Suglia ‘15 finds a gap and puts the ball to space for Saskia “Kiki” Morgan ‘16 who flies in the for the try under the posts leaving the score at Brown 5 – Cornell 0.  Lucy Fernandez ‘14 scores the conversion making it 7-0.

The ball changes hands several times and at 32 minutes, Brown saves a Cornell try by jumping on a loose kicked ball by Cornell.  The resulting 5m scrum saw Cornell turn the scrum and the No.8 dive over the line.  The try is unconverted for a score of Brown 7-Cornell 5. 

The next minutes saw Brown trying to regroup but Cornell was able to keep possession and work their way down into the Brown goal for another try at 35 minutes.  Again, the try unconverted left the score at Brown 7-Cornell 10.  Not to be outdone, Brown drove Cornell back on the kickoff and never let up until a Brown scrum at the 5m saw Jessica “Jess” Sawadogo ‘14 drive over the line for 5 points leaving the score at Brown 12 – Cornell 10 for half.

The second half saw Ebony McCaskill ’16 coming in for Jacqueline Rice ‘16 and Julia Carr ‘14 coming in for Natalie Klotz ‘14 (injury).  From the kickoff, Brown was resolute about staying in the Cornell half and kept pounding until May Sui ‘15 drove over the line and scored from a 5m breakdown.  At 42:00 the score being Brown 17-Cornell 10. 

A penalty against Cornell saw Lucy Fernandez ‘14 finding touch at the Cornell 40yd line, the ball again going out to Jess Sawadogo ‘14.  Quick support by Tiara Mack ’16 and another forward attack got the ball into Kiki Morgan’s ‘16 hands and she drove to 15 yd from the Cornell tryzone.  From a series of possessions, the ball finds it’s way into Oksana Goretaya’s ’17 hands who commits a defender and dishes to Kiki Morgan ‘16 at 60:00 for the score.  The conversion by Lucy Fernandez ’14 leaves the score at Brown 24 – Cornell 10.  Brown scores again at 70 minutes with a powerful Brown forwards recycle to Elena Suglia ‘15 finding a hole for her outside center, Kiki Morgan ‘16.  Lucy Fernandez ‘14, adding a conversion leaves the score at Brown 31-Cornell 10.

A rash of Brown penalties had the team on the back foot, but a kick charge down by Saudi Garcia saw the ball picked up and run to the 10yd line by Jess Sawadogo ‘14.  Swift support by the Brown forwards produced a quick recycle but unfortunate mishandling stopped the movement.  The game soon ends with Brown gaining a definite win with a final score of Brown 31-Cornell 10. Lock Tiara Mack describes Brown as a “strong team the kept the intensity through out the entire game. It felt great!”