SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College women's rugby team cruised past Norwich University, winning 44-21 at Ronald J. Abdow Field on Saturday afternoon for the team's first victory of the season.

AIC took an early 7-0 lead off a try and the subsequent conversion about nine minutes into the game. Bridget Kahele extended the Yellow Jackets' lead with a try at 20:12 in the first, pushing the score to 12-0.

Norwich cut the lead to 12-7 at 11:05, but AIC followed up with a try a few minutes later to push the lead to 17-7.

Norwich then answered back with about four minutes left in the first half to come within 17-14, but AIC entered the half with the 17-14 lead.

Kahele extended the lead with a try at 29:51 in the second half to make it 22-14, and the Yellow Jackets followed up with another try at about the 23-minute mark to make their lead 27-14. Molly Plante added a try of her own and the Yellow Jackets made the conversion to take a 34-14 lead.

With a little more than seven minutes remaining in the game, AIC pushed its lead to 39-19 with a try from Shamira Robles, and then again extended it with another try with about four minutes left to make the score 44-14.

Norwich added a try and conversion as time expired to cement the score at 44-21.

The Yellow Jackets next take action on Sunday, October 2, with a matchup against Central Washington University slated for 12 p.m.