SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - An early second-half surge pushed top-ranked Harvard University past the American International College women's rugby team, 38-24, in National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division I action on Friday, October 30.

AIC is now 3-2 overall. 

On home turf, AIC struck first, and it was a familiar sight as Naomi Dodd was fed the ball off of a scrum near midfield. She broke through the Harvard line and sprinted for a nearly 60-yard try in the eighth minute. Camryn Henderson booted through the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The speed of AIC's backs helped the Yellow Jackets score another try in the 13th minute. This time it was Kiyanah Edwards, taking a feed from Rafielle Barrack and dodging the defense before putting the ball into the try zone.

Harvard was able to answer quickly, scoring less than three minutes later to cut the lead back to 12-7, and then scored another try and conversion in the 25th minute to take its first lead of the game.

However, AIC locked in defensively and was able to push forward into the Crimson end. Emerson Callegari fired a long pass over three players to Luna Bussing on the edge, and she was open enough to dart into the corner of the try zone in the 37th minute, leaving AIC ahead 17-14 at the break.

Harvard regained the edge with a try and conversion in the 49th minute, and added another try in the 54th to jump ahead 26-17. AIC slowed the Crimson for awhile, but in the 60th minute, they struck again, converting as well for a 33-17 lead, and added one more try in the 67th minute.

The Yellow Jackets did not relent, and went back to the tried and true formula: give the ball to Naomi Dodd. She broke the line and dashed 65 yards down the left side before cutting to the middle for the score. Henderson converted as well. 

That was the end of the scoring, however, as Harvard held from there for the win.

AIC has one more game to play, a makeup of its postponed match against Queens University of Charlotte. That match will be held on Saturday, November 7.