Women's Rugby | 4/23/2016 5:32:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Apr. 23) – The Central Washington University women's rugby team fell in its semi-final fixture of the D1 Elite Championship to Brigham Young University, 10-24.
 
The Wildcats broke the 0-0 score line in the sixth minute.  A scrum near the Cougars' 22-metre line was won by Central and generated an offensive opportunity.  Jennifer Johnson and Emma Leonard used offloads to create space, before Mckenzie Pusch grounded the ball over the try line for a 5-0 lead.
 
The Cougars found the score sheet next.  In the 17^th minute BYU worked a long possession into points, grinding down the field and levelling the score at 5-5.
 
In the 24^th minute BYU capitalized again and made the conversion for a 12-5 advantage.  The Cougars struck again before the halftime whistle and went into half with a 17-5 lead.
 
In the 42^nd minute BYU was issued a yellow card and the Wildcats held were on a man advantage for 10 minutes.  The Cougars defense held fast, however and Central could not capitalize. 
 
Brigham Young University found the try zone again in the 62^nd minute, taking a 24-5 lead.
 
Asinate Serevi gave the Wildcats their second try in the 73^rd minute.  After pushing down the pitch and inside the Cougars' five-metre line the Wildcats met the Cougars' defense on the try line.  The battle inside the five-metre mark briefly ended when BYU was penalized for an improper entry into a ruck. 
 
The Wildcats elected to tap and go, with Johnson restarting play.  Central found the wider area of play, allowing Serevi to find space.  Met with the last defender, Serevi used a dummy pass to evade the defense and ground the ball for a try.
 
Central's 15's season has drawn to a conclusion, but May 28-29 holds the USA Rugby 7's National Tournament in store for the Wildcats.