Lions Win NRU Championship

After two gritty performances this weekend, the Village Lions emerged Northeast Regional champs, defeating Providence 15-3 for the Nationals berth, and Albany 10-0 for the #2 seed. Champagne bottles in hand (thanks, Collinses!), corks flew as the Leonas celebrated the fruits of a hardworking season.

Fullback Alli Hinke led all scorers with 15 points on two tries, a conversion and penalty. Captain Jess Houser was deemed Woman of the Weekend, a tribute to her stalwart performances in the huddle and on the pitch, and Susan Pellecchia stepped up her typically stellar game for the Silent Force nod.

In a match dedicated to Cris Maisano, who was unable to attend Regionals, the Village Lions earned their ticket to Orlando with a 15-3 win over Providence, ranked number one in New England RFU. Albany won its match against Morris for the second Northeast RFU slot at Nationals.

Eight man Meg Collins was the first to touch down, as she finished off a second-phase drive to the try zone from 15 meters out, and Hinke slotted the conversion, 7-0. Hinke tacked on a penalty from 15 meters out about 10 minutes later, 10-0. Just before the half, Providence slotted its lone points of the match (and marked the only points the Lions allowed on the weekend) with a penalty, 8-3.

Houser punched in a second-half try, which began with a 10-meter lineout that forwards drove to the line, 15-3.

Collins T, Houser T, Hinke C, P.

1. Meg O'Connell, 2. Jess Henck, 3. Kim Siciliano (Sharon Berger), 4. Lisa Dummeyer (Becca Gobeille), 5. Jess Houser, 6. Trina Lear (Emma Fisher), 7. Susan Pellecchia, 8. Meg Collins, 9. Becca Asser, 10. Jackie Finlan, 11. Sophie Denis, 12. Marne Sussman, 13. Krista Buckley, 14. Laura Detmer, 15. Alli Hinke.

The Lions shut out Albany 10-0 for the #2 seed at Nationals. Alli Hinke logged both tries, one in each half.

The score doesn't reflect the dominance the Lions exhibited on the day, as the majority of possession was in VLRFC's favor and play mostly stayed in Albany's half.

Alli touched down in the corner late in the first half, finishing off a passing series that incorporated forwards and backs alike, 5-0.

Midway through the second half, off a 15-meter lineout, backs received clean ball and dished to Alli, who was loading in the line to take advantage of weak Albany centers. She zipped past them for the final try, 10-0.

Hinke 2T.

1. Meg O'Connell, 2. Meredith Harmon (Jess Henck), 3. Kim Siciliano (Sharon Berger), 4. Skip Charlick (Lisa Dummeyer), 5. Jess Houser, 6. Trina Lear (Emma Fisher), 7. Susan Pellecchia, 8. Meg Collins, 9. Becca Asser, 10. Jackie Finlan, 11. Lindsay Molnar (Sophie Denis), 12. Marne Sussman, 13. Krista Buckley, 14. Laura Detmer (Lucy Greenberg), 15. Alli Hinke.

Woman of the Weekend - Jess Houser; Silent Force - Susan Pellecchia. And thank you to the 30+ Lions, able and injured alike, who turned out for support and knew that only 22 could take the pitch. Our depth was our edge on the weekend and what will propel us to the top of the podium in Orlando!