BRUNSWICK, Maine - The American International College women's rugby team locked up its second-straight undefeated National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division II Regular Season Championship, pounding Bowdoin College 43-0 on Friday, October 24.

AIC is now 5-1 overall and 4-0 in NIRA Division II.

"It means we've proven how strong and resilient we are together," team captain Annekkia Ritter-Truxal said of the overall result, adding "We truly are a family, always. I love this team."

The Yellow Jackets were able to break quickly to score, as Shiela Sarmiento put the ball down between the uprights in the fourth minute. Camryn Henderson made the conversion to give AIC a 7-0 lead.

The Polar Bears pushed hard, but AIC was able to break for another try in the 21st minute; Venise Sanft made a great run up the right side and cut back into the middle; at the last second, she offloaded to Kiyanah Edwards for the score.

AIC took a yellow card and had to play down a player, but was able to keep the Polar Bears at bay throughout before Edwards scored again in the 35th minute. The 17-0 lead held through halftime thanks to a brilliant goal-line stand by the AIC defense.

Out of the break, Edwards erased any doubts about the results with tries in the 45th and 49th minutes, and Henderson converted both to push the lead to 31-0.

Haley Thompson jammed in another try in the 55th minute, and Edwards capped AIC's try scoring with her fifth of the night in the 66th minute. Henderson converted that one for the 43-0 final.

AIC now awaits the remaining games in NIRA Division II to be played to know its NIRA Championship Semifinal opponent. The game will be played the weekend of November 14-16 at Ronald J. Abdow Field.