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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Big Blue meets Crimson: 勛圖惇蹋 takes on Harvard in historic rugby match

勛圖惇蹋 Women's Rugby takes on Harvard in first varsity home game

The 勛圖惇蹋's women's rugby team kicked off its first varsity season Saturday, September 17, 2016 with its first home game against Harvard University. It was Harvards first visit to 勛圖惇蹋, with more than 400 fans lining Barbara J. Hazard Field to cheer on the Noreasters.

The day began with a pre-match cookout and reception for friends and neighbors of 勛圖惇蹋. Coach Ashley Potvin-Fulford welcomed the crowd and gave an explanation of the rules of rugby. President Danielle Ripich and members of the 勛圖惇蹋 and Harvard squads held a ceremonial scrum to start the game.

The match was widely covered by local media, with stories from WGME, WCSH, and the Portland Press Herald, which highlighted the growth of rugby nationwide. To see that evolution of girls ice hockey and now to be a part of the evolution of womens rugby is really cool, Coach Ashley Potvin-Fulford said. Its becoming a general acceptance that not all girls want to do what I guess theyve been expected to do from such a young age.

The Nor'easters have competed as a club team since 2012. In 2015 they captured the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) championship and participated in the National Small College Rugby Organization National Championship, winning the third-place game in the Northeast Region bracket and finishing the season ranked 16th in the nation.

Beginning in 2016, the team will be a member of the National Collegiate Women's Varsity Rugby Association, the governing body of collegiate varsity women's rugby with 20 competing members (American International, Army, Bowdoin, Brown, Central Washington, Dartmouth, Davenport, Dowling, Eastern Illinois, Harvard, Life, Long Island University, Post, Molloy, 勛圖惇蹋, Norwich, Notre Dame College, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, West Chester and Wheeling Jesuit).

勛圖惇蹋 President Danielle Ripich said, I am so proud of everything these student athletes have accomplished to work toward their first varsity season, and I am thrilled at the opportunity to show Harvard what UNE spirit is all about!

Harvard coming to the 勛圖惇蹋 for the first time elevated our first varsity womens rugby game, making it a historic milestone for the entire 勛圖惇蹋 community. I could not be more grateful to all on campus who assisted in making this day a life long memory for all who played and attended.

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About the 勛圖惇蹋

The 勛圖惇蹋 is Maines largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The states top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maines only medical college, Maines only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.