NOVA Nighthawks Women’s Rugby Defeats VCU

On a rainy Saturday in Northern Virginia, there was a different kind of storm brewing at NOVA Loudoun. While there was no thunder that day, the ladies of the NOVA Nighthawks Rugby Team rumbled to a big victory against Virginia Commonwealth University Womens Rugby!

Twenty-three student athletes laced up their cleats, put in their mouth guards and took the field together for what was for most of them, only their second time ever playing a rugby game. With teamwork and determination, the Nighthawks sent the message that, despite being the newest team in the region, they not only belong in the league, but  they are a force to be reckoned with. 

NOVA Nighthawks Rugby is one of the largest and most dynamic sports teams at the college. The Nighthawks compete at the Division 2 college level and play exclusively against four-year college and university teams in the region. After a close match in week one that ended in a loss to American University, the Nighthawks were chomping at the bit for redemption in week two!

The Nighthawks kicked off to an eager VCU team who managed to strike 30 seconds into the first half to make the score 0-5. That did not deter our ladies who dominated possession for the next 39 minutes. The Nighthawks scored at minute 11 and then again 7 minutes later to take a 10-5 lead going into halftime. VCU broke through the middle of the Nighthawk defense early in the second half to tie it up, but the Nighthawk’s captain answered back a few minutes later to retake the lead, 15-10. With only a few minutes remaining, VCU was awarded a penalty try on a high tackle by the Nighthawks fullback, giving them the lead, 15-17. On the final kickoff of the game, your Nighthawks stole the ball back and charged down the field to put up another 5 points. In what would be VCU’s final attempt, they ran into one of NOVA’s hard-tackling defenders who drove her out of bounds, sealing VCU’s fate and winning the game, 20-17!

Nighthawks Rugby play their home games on the rugby field at the Loudoun Campus and will look to take this momentum into their next game on Oct. 15 against the  University of Mary Washington Women’s Rugby Team.

For questions about our rugby program, please contact Mike McMillon in the Office of Student Life at the Loudoun Campus, mmcmillon@nvcc.edu.

Submitted by:
Mike McMillon, LO-Student Life, MMcMillon@nvcc.edu