Women's Rugby | 9/24/2016 1:36:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 24) – The Central Washington University women's rugby team stormed out to a 63-17 victory in its home opener against Army.  Five different Wildcats crossed the try line, including an impressive double hat trick from Suiluana A'au.
 
"Army have some very physical and talented players which was a challenge for us," CWU Head Coach Mel Denham said.  "We have been working on our defensive pressure and we're able to contain Army's attack. "
 
Central opened the scoring just 34 seconds in.  Michel Navarro gained possession of the kickoff and went up the right wing for the opening try. 
 
A'au scored her first try just a few minutes later.  The freshman from Portland, Oregon pushed through the Army defense and found herself on a 54-meter breakaway down the left touchline for a 10-0 Central lead. 
 
"Sui's linespeed was a factor," Denham noted.  "On attack we played at a high tempo which was our goal and were able to find space around the field and exploit it.  Michel was consistently dangerous with her work rate around the field, slicing through Army's defense.  When Army did have the ball junior Taylor Duncan was a menace at the tackle, racking up multiple turnovers."
 
She went over the try line again in the sixth minute.  An Army turnover put the ball on the grass and it was grubbed forward by Cassidy Meyers.  A'au scooped it up and grounded the ball for a 15-0 lead.
 
A drive by Central in the 16^th minute was halted by the Army defense.  The Wildcats were poised for their fourth unanswered try, but Army held up the try under the posts for a 22-restart.
 
Army got their first opportunity for points in the 19^th minute on a penalty attempt, but the kick careened off the crossbar.
 
The Wildcats picked up another try in the 25^th minute.  Carrie Vaillancourt took an offload from Ashlee Byrge on the left wing and scampered in for the try.
 
Two minutes later Navarro broke free from the defense and made her way towards the try line.  Army's fullback, Kirsten Redmon brought Navarri down just shy of her second try.  Jennifer Johnson finished the possession for Central, earning her first try of the contest and a 27-0 lead after the conversion by Byrge.
 
A'au nabbed her third try in the 35^th minute following a tough defensive stand by Army.  Byrge's second conversion made it 34-0.
 
Army found its first points of the fixture a minute later on a long run down the left wing by Nathosa Willison-Lattimore.
 
In extra time an offload from Army was intercepted by A'au who scampered in for her fourth try.  Byrge's third conversion gave the Wildcats a 41-5 lead heading into halftime. 
 
Yana Manoa and Johnson each added a try in the second half.  A'au added two more tries. 
 
Army added its second try of the contest in the 72^nd minute.  Sam Sullivan grounded the ball after a run along the left touchline.  Rayliegh Gable added the conversion.  Army added another five points on the final play with a try from Rebecca Jeffrey.
 
A'au finished with six tries and three clean breaks.  Byrge notched two clean breaks, two assists, and four conversions.  Leah Ingold dished out three assists.  Rosalind Pena and Vaillancourt each added an assist. The Wildcats finished with 20 clean breaks as a unit.
 
Central won 11 total scrums, including five scrums stolen. While on attack, the Wildcats won 59 out of 65 total rucks. 
 
The Wildcats are back in action on October 1^st in Northfield, Vermont as they take on Norwich University.  Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT.