SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - On the night that the American International College women's rugby team celebrated its seniors, a key play by one of those fourth-year student-athletes proved the difference in the team's championship rematch win.

Venise Sanft scored the final try in AIC's 28-21 win over Davenport University in National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division II action on Saturday, October 4. 

AIC is now 3-1, with a 2-0 NIRA Division II record.

In the first five minutes, AIC roared to a 14-point lead. Jendell Moe pushed the game's first try over the line less than two minutes in, after a steal deep in Davenport territory gave the Yellow Jackets early possession. Barely three minutes later, it was Kiyanah Edwards rushing across the line. Camryn Henderson notched both conversions, and the game looked headed toward a blowout.

However, Davenport pushed back. Taking advantage of miscues by AIC as well as their own defensive prowess, the Panthers first stopped the Yellow Jackets offense, and then broke through with a try of their own, as Leilani Lepe drove in for five in the 18th minute and converted her own play to cut the Yellow Jackets lead to 14-7.

AIC then had to weather playing down a player, with Henderson being yellow carded in the 27th minute for repeated infractions. The defense for the Yellow Jackets did its job, and AIC took the lead into halftime.

Out of the break, AIC again scored twice. The first was Naomi Dodd streaking past defenders on the left side of the field for a score in the 49th minute of play, with Henderson converting for the third time.

Three minutes later, with the Panthers getting set up for a pass, Sanft sensed an opportunity. Timing her jump just as the ball was thrown, she split the defenses and intercepted the ball, catching all 15 Panthers facing the wrong direction and streaking down the field for five. Henderson nailed this conversion too, and AIC led 28-7.

The Panthers refused to fold, however, and did their best to climb back into the match. Lepe scored another try and conversion in the 62nd minute, and Rachel Wilkie pushed the ball home in the 68th minute. Lepe made her third conversion, and suddenly AIC's lead was just seven.

From there, it was a race to see if either side could score, and the defenses went full tilt to prevent that. AIC came closest; a penalty inside of Davenport's 5-meter line allowed Moe a chance to push through, but she was held up in the try zone. However, the Panthers did not breach the line either, and the final whistle blew with AIC still leading, giving the home squad a senior day victory.

AIC will next host its final home regular season game of 2025, a matchup with the University of New Haven, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18.