RUGBY: COUGARS POUNCE ON DOLPHINS

By Carmen Gogue

The Academy Cougars are proving to be the league’s favorite as they continue to dominate on the pitch. In Saturday’s matchup against Southern, the Cougars sped past the Dolphins with a 19-0 victory to remain undefeated.

Maria Paulino led the Cougars with two tries with fellow Cougar Auriana Merfalen adding one of her own.

Unbeatable Speed

Once again, the Cougars quickness shined on the field as they scored early into the first half.

With perfect passing, the Cougars offense found Maria Paulino as she bolted to the house with no Dolphin defenders to make a stop as she provided Academy their first try to be up 5-0.

Although the Cougars missed the conversion, it wasn’t long after that Academy poached the ball from the Dolphins and passed to Auriana Merfalen. Merfalen quickly attacked a gap through the Dolphins defense as she dashed to the try line for the second score of the match adding to the Cougars lead now at 10-0.

Mia Topasna made the conversion for the Cougars to lead 12-0. As the Cougars kept the ball on their side of the field, they came close to scoring a third try before the horn sounded ending the first half.

Midway into the final half, Paulino breezed by Southern defenders and scored her second try of the match with Topasna making the conversion to increase Academy’s lead 19-0.

Towards the last stretch, the Dolphins managed to move the ball down to their side of the field but were unable to find scoring opportunities as the referees called the game to an end.

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