WOMEN'S RUGBY
President CHANTAL EARL | chearl@ucsd.edu
Treasurer MARGAUX SHARPE | masharpe@ucsd.edu
Vice President CHINGI LIN | chl311@ucsd.edu
Instagram 
| @ucsdwomensrugby
UCSD Women's Rugby is part of a growing tradition of women's collegiate rugby in America, and especially in Southern California. The team's SoCal league has become progressively more competitive over the years, thanks to a growing interest in women's rugby. UCSD Women's Rugby has a history of excelling in their league, making it to nationals several times and doing well with the tough competition. UCSD Women's Rugby is known for our yearly tournament called Scrum By the Sea, that happens every November, and includes teams from all over California and Arizona. UCSD Women's Rugby also annually travels to Stanford and Arizona for tournements and regular league play.
Potential Ruggers
It's never too early/late to join the Women's Rugby Team at UCSD and become part of the fastest growing women's college sports in the country. We are always looking for enthusiastic, hard-working, fun or serious athletes who want to try something new. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! None of the current players on our team had any previous rugby experience coming in to college, so don't be intimidated about trying something new -- we all did!
Rugby History
Rugby was born in 1823 when, in a fit of unsportsmanlike rage, William Webb Ellis of Rugby School in England picked up the ball during a match of soccer and ran with it. Since that time, many others have mimicked his actions (both unlawfully during soccer as well as during sanctioned rugby matches). Rugby was brought to the U.S. by 1840, and in 1911, lead to the development of American football with the introduction of the forward pass.
Women, bright enough to avoid playing American football, joined in the sport of rugby by the 1970s by organizing the country's first women's clubs in Colorado and Connecticut. Rugby is at present one of the fastest growing sports among collegiate women in the U.S.
NEWS AND RESULTS
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events!
4/11/26 - Tritons Go Undefeated at Claremont 7s 
This past weekend, the UC San Diego Women’s Rugby team traveled to the pristine Claremont campus for a competitive day of sevens and walked away undefeated. Notably, this tournament marked the first sevens experience for many Triton rookies, who had only played fifteens and had just a few weeks to learn the fast-paced game. Despite being placed in new and unfamiliar positions, they rose to the challenge and delivered an impressive performance across all matches.
UCSD opened the day against Claremont Blue in a defensive battle, ending the first half scoreless. Rookie Kalpana Chadha stood out on the wing with aggressive tackles and relentless intensity, using her speed to break through the defensive line. Marianne Eichmann anchored the defense with multiple commanding back-to-back tackles, shutting down Claremont’s attempts to break through. In the second half, Mia Taylor broke the deadlock with an outstanding try. After Claremont answered to tie the game, Taylor struck again, securing a 14-7 win for the Tritons.
The Tritons carried that momentum into their second match against UCLA’s Vet team. Sandra Pollack set the tone with strong tackles and an incredible run that led to her first rugby try. UCSD’s attack continued to fire, led by Mia Taylor, who scored an outstanding four tries in a row, while also consistently making aggressive tackles to maintain defensive pressure. Ariana Cannon closed out the match, contributing a satisfying try of her own. Despite two late scores from UCLA, UCSD remained in control throughout, finishing with a 36-12 victory.
In their final match against LMU, UCSD continued to showcase their skills. Megan Takeuchi put the Tritons on the board early with two tries before LMU responded with a try of their own just before halftime. Rookie Allison Ma, playing in her first rugby game ever, made a notable impact with strong tackles, confident passing, and impressive field awareness. Rookie Mya Lopez also added to the intensity with powerful runs, nearly scoring after driving defenders back into their own try zone. Mia Taylor closed out the match with yet another try, and the Tritons’ defense held firm to secure a 17-5 win.
With consistent contributions across the roster and a standout showing from rookies adapting quickly to sevens, the Tritons demonstrated both grit and growth. UCSD leaves Claremont undefeated, building momentum and confidence as the season continues.
3/7/26 - A Final Grapple with the UCSB Gauchos
Could there be a better place to spend UCSD’s last game of the 15s season than in beautiful Santa Barbara?
UCSD began the game with intensity and grit, showing off their practiced structures and keeping steady hands on the ball to the final minute. It was particularly inspiring to see the dramatic improvement of rookies who joined in the fall and their newfound love for the sport, especially Kalpana Chadha and Sofia Valenzuela, after a few months of hard work. The final score of this deadly UC match up was a 7-45 loss.
A few players truly embodied the triton spirit in this final testament to perseverance. Megan Takeuchi broke through UCSB’s defensive line and scored a beautiful try before taking a step forward from the backs and playing as flanker for the last few minutes of the game. Stella Dorsey kicked a conversion, had numerous 8 man picks, and covered a lot of ground in her fantastic runs. Danae Cargill successfully fielded an astronomical kick and Andrea Mota had some textbook tackles playing lock. Mia Taylor took down UCSB’s offense left and right, and delivered a rounding speech to the backs which instilled a spirit of hunger for the ball which sustained UCSD for an exciting second half. Nikole had a notable tackle that saved UCSD from adding another try to the opponents tally.
Highlights of the game included a standout defensive pressure that caused UCSB to knock on the ball. On offense, UCSD consistently was able to utilize the 15 meter channel and stay in bounds to make plays back inside. Powerful scrums from the forwards made it impossible for UCSD to be back. In addition, good decision making was apparent in calculated kicks that kept the ball out of the danger zone and helped cover offensive ground.
Overall, the game was a culmination of the trying 2026 season in which players worked their tridents off to build unmatched physical fitness and technique. Players refined their rugby IQs to create a formidable team of athletes, and most importantly, have fun on the pitch. UCSB proved to be a talented opposition who challenged UCSD to make a commitment to keep learning, applying, and committing throughout the sevens season and in years to come.
2/28/26 - A Fur-ocious Battle Against the Foxes
UC San Diego Women’s Rugby delivered a strong attacking performance against Claremont Colleges Foxes with scoring coming from both the forwards and the backline. The forward pack set the tone in the 25th minute with multiple strong pick and go phases near the line before lock Chantal Earl made the final push over for the try. Inside center playing at No. 12, Mia Taylor, added two tries in the 50th and 77th minutes, extending the Tritons score. No. 8, Stella Dorsey, successfully converted both of Taylor’s tries.
Honorable mentions include rookie Maya Roof, putting in several strong defensive tackles in the forward pack. Scrum half, Nicole Kron, found space on offense and carried the ball well to gain valuable yardage. Stella Dorsey also created momentum for the Tritons with quick tap and go plays after penalties on Claremont’s side, pushing the team forward and keeping pressure on the foxes defensive line. Back at No. 10, Megan Takeuchi, and No. 12 Mia Taylor made kicks down the field, offensively, to gain yardage.
Claremont Colleges added a few more tries of their own during the match. UC San Diego maintained steady pressure and finished with a strong performance and high work rate against the undefeated Claremont side, closing the match with a final score of 19-45.
2/21/26 - Tritons Wrestle with the Wildcats
Traversing states, driving through mountains, deserts, and stars to reach Tucson, Arizona, UCSD faced University of Arizona for the second away game of the season. Though the match ended 19-14, with University of Arizona winning, the Tritons persisted until the final knock on.
U of A battered down the field and although they were stuck down again and again by UCSD’s relentless defence, they poked through to score the first try of the game at the 11th minute. After the forwards’ demonstration of herculean strength, Mia Taylor (C) barrelled through, stiff-arming defenders and diving valiantly into the try zone. Stella Dorsey evened up the score in the 21st minute with a legendary conversion kick. U of A scored again in the 30th minute.
In the second half, Caelan Torres came in as prop and made a great impact on the field with new energy and boundless strength. Kalpanna (the Cheetah) Chaddha’s speed on the field danced around defenders, allowing Stella to thrust into the try zone. She slammed the ball through the uprights, landing the conversion. Sophia (Pauli) Smith came onto the field with a vengeance, tearing through U of A bodies, gaining crucial yards for the Tritons.
Autumn Hogan and Marlowe Snapp (the pod of god) were lions in the jungle of the 15 meter channel. UCSD dominated line outs thanks to Autumn’s amazing throws, leading to beautifully artistic footwork and plays by the backs. Marlowe, the other half of the pod of god, was on the hunt all game, taking carry after unstoppable carry.
Despite the loss, UCSD saw much improvement since last week’s game against SDSU. The leadership of Megan Takeuchi and Marianne Eichmann was instrumental in the team’s work on the field earning them this week's MVPs. With relentless energy and drive, UCSD is ready to dominate and strike fear in the remaining games of the season.
2/14/26 - A Nail-Biter to the Final Whistle 
UCSD traveled across town to face SDSU in a tightly contested matchup that came down to the final minutes. Battling through injuries, the Tritons showed flashes of brilliance and resilience but ultimately fell just short in a heartbreaking 27–26 loss. Despite the result, the match was defined by determination, standout individual efforts, and moments of true Triton grit.
UCSD struck early, with Ariana Cannon crossing the try line in the 12th minute after a maul that caught SDSU on their heels. Just six minutes later, Cannon found space again, finishing her second try of the afternoon in the 18th minute to give the Tritons early momentum. Stella Dorsey added the conversion to extend the lead and keep pressure firmly on the opposition. Megan Takeuchi powered through contact to notch another try in the 27th minute, showcasing strength and persistence in close quarters.
In the second half, Mia Taylor reignited the attack with a decisive try in the 55th minute, finishing off a dynamic phase of play. Dorsey calmly slotted the conversion, keeping UCSD within striking distance as the clock ticked down. Every point mattered in what became a back-and-forth battle defined by physical collisions and quick transitions.
Defensively, Kyra Cantu delivered excellent tackles that halted SDSU’s momentum at crucial moments. Marianne Eichmann commanded the field with vocal leadership and composure, even after receiving a yellow card, continuing to rally her teammates from the sideline. Eliana Hernandez’s communication kept the defensive line organized under pressure, while Margaux Sharpe produced stellar runs that consistently gained meters and put UCSD on the front foot. Marlowe Snapp demonstrated perfect technique in contact situations, reinforcing both the team’s offensive and defensive structure. Sophia Smith and Marley Meeker stepped up as impactful punishers, bringing fresh energy and physicality when it was needed most.
Though the team struggled with handling errors and the strain of several injured players sidelined, their effort never wavered. The match remained within reach until the very end, a testament to the squad’s resilience and belief in one another. While the 27-26 score line stings, the performance showed that even under pressure and adversity, UCSD continues to fight for every inch and every minute. The foundation is there — and with sharpened execution, this team is poised to turn close battles into statement victories in the weeks ahead.
2/8/26 - UCSD vs GCU: A Battle of Physicality and Grit
On Super Bowl Sunday, UCSD faced off against GCU in a hard-fought matchup at Warren Field for the last home game of the season. Despite the final score of 22–50, the Tritons showed resilience and determination from start to finish. GCU capitalized on early opportunities and maintained strong attacking pressure throughout the match, but UCSD answered back with grit, refusing to let the game slip away without a battle.
Opening the game with a bang, Darya Massih blew through the GCU defence into the try-zone only minutes after kickoff, the team awarded a penalty try after a high tackle from the bewildered defence. UCSD’s tries came from Rose Green in the 38th minute and Mia Taylor in the 73rd minute, with key conversions added by Nikole Kron. Stella Dorsey also slotted a penalty in the 22nd minute to keep momentum within reach. While GCU’s Angelique Schrock and Arianna Topping proved clinical in their finishing and conversions, the Tritons continued to push back defensively and offensively. Every phase was contested, and UCSD matched GCU’s physicality with relentless effort around the breakdown and in open play.
The defining moment came in the final quarter when UCSD crossed the try line, ending the match on a high note. That last-minute score was more than just points on the board — it was a statement of heart. Even in a tough loss, the team proved they would not give up, fighting until the final whistle. Finishing with that try boosted morale and reinforced the team’s belief in one another, setting the tone for growth and determination moving forward in the season.
1/24/26 - Sun Devils Hold Out Against a Relentless Triton Offense
Another amazing day for rugby! The weather was sunny with some clouds, but both teams put the heat on the field. The Tritons had a rocky start, though the resilience shone through. The Sun Devils, known for their aggressive counter-rucking were disrupted at every turn. After pushing through, last weeks MVP Andrea Mota yet again brought the Tritons onto the scoreboard with the first try for the team. Many times throughout the game the Sun Devils were close to the try-line, but the Tritons still fought strong, preventing many tries. Stella Dorsey and forwards captain Chantal Earl showed a beautiful display of teamwork with Chantal's beautiful pass to Stella for an amazing try.
Triton scrums were incredibly strong, many spinning out. The Sun Devils continued to move the ball with many strategic kicks, but fullback Alina Carino made sure to clean them up.
After half-time the Tritons picked up the pace even more. Chantal went on to score 2 more tries, with beautiful footwork and strength, powering through the opposition. Despite a relentless effort, two of UCSDs tries were held up by the Sun Devils in an intense and thrilling passage of play. A final score of 28-41 shows the outright grit and determination the Tritons played against the Sun Devils. A 100% conversion success rate this game thanks to Stella, and Nikole Kron for the final kick. Stella was crowned this games MVP, for her beautiful try, her ridiculous stamina and work rate on the field, and her always reliable and consistent conversions.
1/17/26 - Tritons Smash Season Opener Against UCLA
It was a beautiful day for rugby! There was blue sky with just enough cloud coverage to keep the ruggers cool during their first match of the season. Andrea Mota showed UCLA just what it means to be a Triton, bringing full energy right from the start. After making the first tackle with a solid hit, she also scored the first try! The second try came from way behind the 50. It seems like all those broncos really paid off because Sara Tsai left everyone panting in the dust.
The scrums continued to be powerful thanks to the Triton’s forwards, but their backs took the ball and got creative with some beautiful passes allowing Darya Massih to score the third try for UCSD from the wing. Mia saw the kicking vision and booted a tasty grubber. Everybody’s seen Sofia Valenzuela practicing getting under the ball. So, when the Bruins kicked off and sent the ball up, Vale was right underneath to catch it.
Before the first half even ended, the Tritons scored two more tries. Forwards captain Chantal Earl showed relentlessness and powered into the try zone; backs captain Mia Taylor followed using quick thinking to break the Bruins’ defensive line and score a try. Stella Dorsey stepped up as her first season being a kicker and made 3 great conversions adding points to the board.
The Tritons kept up the energy during the second half ending with a victory. A final score of 31-10 reflects the hard work UCSD Women’s rugby does on and off the pitch, with Andrea Mota receiving MVP for her incredible work rate and unrelenting tackles. Stay tuned for a highly anticipated home match next week when the Tritons take on Arizona State.
11/22-23/25 - No Armor, Just Grit - Scrum by the Sea 2025 
This past weekend, the UCSD Women’s Rugby team hosted the annual, highly anticipated, Scrum by the Sea tournament! However, this year was unlike any other. Torrential storms lashed San Diego for weeks leading up to the tournament, drowning Warren Field, the traditional match grounds. This left the team scrambling, unsure of what to do. It was declared that, for the first time in history, the Scrum by the Sea would be held on Muir Field. The incredible tournament director, Chingi Lin, sprung into action, doing everything in her power to make sure that the transfer between fields would be seamless and every teams’ tournament experience would be spectacular.
On the cold, cloudy Saturday morning, ruggers hailing from across California and Arizona poured into Muir Field, eagerly anticipating the day’s matches. In their first game of the day, our Tritons faced the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. The UCSD team asserted their offensive skills early with an attempted try by prop Andrea Mota. Regrettably, it was deemed a held-up try and not counted. The Tritons fought valiantly the rest of the match, but the Gauchos were a worthy adversary and ended with taking the 7-0 win. In UCSD’s second match, they faced Arizona State. The match was a challenging battle and ASU took the lead 21-0.
Following yesterday’s matches, the UC San Diego women’s rugby team showed up to their 10:30 AM kick-off energized and ready to play. On the other side of the field stood UCLA, ready to receive the ball. A strong kick from UCSD started off the game as players rushed forwards. Amidst powerful tackles, UCSD managed to seize the ball from UCLA. Chantal Earl rushed ahead and scored the team’s first try followed by a successful conversion kick by Nikole Kron, starting the Tritons off strong at 7-0. The two teams entered the first scrum of the day after UCLA’s ball didn’t go 10. The UCSD forwards powered through the scrum, landing the ball in their hands. Through excellent support and good hands, Lina Luedi scored the second try of the game. With another amazing conversion kick from Nikole Kron, UCSD now stood at 14-0.
Entering the second half, the Tritons were once again receiving. The ball bounced between the two teams until a decisive scrum, turning the ball over to UCSD. After a tackle and a pass, the ball gets passed to Sara Tsai who bulldozes past several defenders from the halfway line all the way into the try zone. The incredible try and another conversion kick from Nikole keeps the Tritons in the lead at 21-0. Towards the end of the game, UCLA turns the tides and scores a try, putting the match at 21-5. Nevertheless, the Tritons did not let their spirits falter for a second and poured their energy into the remainder of the game, preventing UCLA from scoring any more tries, resulting in the final scoreboard being a Triton victory of 21-5.
As the tournament drew to a close, the UCSD Women’s Rugby team knew that though tournament victory may have eluded them this year, both vets and rookies alike learned invaluable lessons and were more prepared than ever to tackle the upcoming season.
11/1/25 - Scrimmage at Mira Costa
UC San Diego women’s rugby arrived on the pitch after Halloween night to face off Mira Costa College in their first scrimmage of the season. With returning players ready to pounce and incoming players ready for their first opportunity to play, stakes were high and blood was rushing. Mia Taylor got the Tritons on the board early with a try, followed soon after by Sara Tsai, giving UCSD a 12–0 lead after Nikole Kron’s conversion. Mira Costa responded with a try to close the first quarter at 12–5, and the momentum began to shift in the second. After a back-and-forth battle, Mira Costa managed to even the score 17–17 going into halftime. In the third quarter, Mira Costa pulled ahead with two quick tries, but UCSD wasn’t backing down—Mia and Tsai both scored again, and a successful conversion from Mia brought UCSD back on top at 29–27. Chantal Earl then powered through the defense for a try and nailed her own conversion, extending the lead to 34–29. The final quarter was intense, with Mira Costa fighting back and reclaiming the lead after a try and conversion. Despite UCSD’s strong scrums, solid lineouts, and relentless defense, Mira Costa sealed the win with a final try by Ari Cannon (a UCSD Triton). Notably, UCSD showed great sportsmanship by lending a few players to Mira Costa, making the game competitive and fun for everyone. The match ended 42–34, but UCSD’s teamwork, resilience, and spirit were on full display in this thrilling, hard-fought game.
5/17/25 - UCSB Women's Rugby Tournament 
Coming in from a restful night at the hotel, UC San Diego women’s rugby arrives at the Santa Barbara rugby pitch. Three teams await them: UCLA, and two teams from Santa Barbara, who beat them in the finals of the last tournament. The field is soft and the Tritons feel nothing as they tackle, kick, and poach their way to a shutout victory against Santa Barbara A team (20-0). Next they faced the B team, which provided them another victory amongst tired limbs with the final score of 27-5. With a short recovery period of 40 minutes, they move onto their next game against UCLA with grit but tired bodies. Tritons were ahead the whole game, one breakaway at the end from UCLA leads to a 19-19 tie, putting them into the final against UCSB A. Anticipation and energy builds as the ref blows his starting whistle, and the trains go out on fire. They scored early with a shoutout try from Takeuchi, a senior in her last match, to put away a victory finishing the tournament, and their season, and first.
3/1/25 - UCSD vs University of Arizona
The Triton seniors played their final home game against The University of Arizona. UCSD kicked off the game with an early try made by Mia Taylor off of a cheeky chip and chase. The rest of the game was a closely contested game with impressive performances from Chantal Earl and Darya Massih who helped the tritons gain meters on both offense and defense. It was back and forth all game as UCSD and Arizona took turns scoring tries. Many players got to try out some new positions including a special appearance of Lina Luedi as prop. The man of the match was awarded to Alina Carino who made some amazing last ditch tackles which saved the team from several Arizona tries. Even after pushing Arizona off the Triton’s 22 on several occasions Arizona emerged on top with a final score of 23-43.
2/22/25 - Home Game Against Claremont
The Tritons showed up bright and early on February 22nd to get ready for their home game against the Claremont Foxes. The team started strong, with the forward captain Lina Luedi scoring within the first 3 minutes. As the game continued on, the Tritons got pushed back within 5 meters of their own try zone by the Foxes, but a sudden steal by Patricia Ayala quickly turned the tide of the half. The team made their exit which paved the way for Mia Taylor to bolt towards the try line and gain a penalty try. As the team was able to consistently keep it within Claremont’s 50, Sophia Trujillo, known for being a force to be reckoned with, scored a try to finish out the first half.
Going into the second half, the Tritons aimed to keep up the pace. Darya Massih affirmed this by scoring a try within the first 8 minutes. Andrea Mota had many great runs through Claremont’s defensive line. However, she was struck down by the Foxes and was subbed out due to an ankle injury. Shortly after, Soph was also taken out by a knee injury while taking the ball in. Down two players, Autumn Hogan and McKenzie Neumman took to the pitch for the rest of the second half. Despite the loss of two valued players and a shift in the lineup, the Tritons were able to power through by relying on their skills and their practice together as a team. They created a solid defensive line, with many players making hard hits to bring down the Foxes. It was a close game within the second half, but the Tritons came out victorious with a final score of 31-27, marking the Tritons’ third win of the season.
2/15/25 - UCSD vs GCU
On a sunny day in Arizona, the Tritons faced off against the powerful opponent of GCU. With low numbers and forwards such as Mar Eichmann and Autumn Hogan stepping into the backline, the Tritons proved their strength and resilience from the get-go. Right off the kickoff, the Tritons' defensive line applied quick and consistent pressure, causing multiple dropped balls and missed passes from GCU’s side, setting the pace for the game. Alina Carino consistently shut down runs as 15, tossing opposing GCU players out of bounds and making tackles against players nearly two times her size. Captain Megan Takeuchi gets the ball off the scrum, stiff arming two players and making it nearly 20 meters down the pitch. It is then taken in a pick and go by prop Caelen Torres, who takes it nearly to the try zone on an impressive solo run. Five minutes later Caelen gets the ball and yet again runs it from behind the half to five meters off the try line in an impressive showcase of strength and speed. The Tritons spent nearly 17 minutes in GCU’s half but were unable to score. With injuries and no subs in the second half, the Tritons showed their toughness, ending overall with a score of 0-50 to GCU.
2/8/26 - UCSD vs UCLA 
UC San Diego took on UCLA on UCLA’s home turf for an intense and hard-fought match, coming away with a strong performance on the scoreboard. The game kicked off with high energy, and it didn’t take long for UCSD to strike first. With an assist from Patty, Mia powered through the UCLA defense to score the opening try, setting the tone for the match. Shortly after, Tak capitalized on a quick break, dodging defenders to add another try to UCSD’s tally. But it didn’t stop there. Caelen followed up with an impressive run, weaving through the opposition like an unstoppable tank and finishing off strong to extend the lead. Chantal then added to the momentum. With defenders bouncing off of them and finishing off a well-executed team play with a beautiful try. Darya, with her quickness and agility, took over in the second half. With our backline confusing the offense and getting the ball out to Darya, she was able to score back-to-back tries, weaving through the defense with dominant runs that showcased her speed and experience. With our fantastic new kicker Mia stepping up to the position with precision and grace, she was able to make three conversion kicks, only adding up the number on the scoreboard. Despite UCLA’s strong defense and amazing runners, Tak delivered the final blow, breaking through UCLA’s defense once again to score the last try of the game. With such a strong and dominant forward line and a speedy back line with some tricks up their sleeve, UCSD’s teamwork, relentless attack, and solid defense proved too much for UCLA, securing a well-earned win. The final score was 41-12, an astounding comeback for the UCSD Women’s Rugby Team.
2/1/25 - UCSD Tritons vs. ASU
The Tritons took on Arizona State University in a hard-fought match, facing tough competition and battling through injuries. ASU struck early with a converted try, but the Tritons responded with a determined effort from Mia (10), who broke through ASU’s defense to score a crucial try at the 10-minute mark, bringing the score to 7-5. ASU continued to apply pressure, adding another try before halftime and extending their lead to 17-5. Despite the challenges, the Tritons kept their heads up, working hard to regain possession and hold the 
defensive line. Several substitutions were made, including adjustments for injuries, but the team remained locked in and determined. The second half saw ASU widen the lead, but the Tritons fought with everything they had. Chantal (4) played with relentless energy, leading the charge with our forwards through a tough game and helping direct the flow of the game. Our back players showed true resilience, sticking it out and giving their all despite a tough opponent. Eliana (11) played a crucial role in holding down the backs and guiding the team through a challenging match. Patty (14) stood out with her powerful tackles that kept up the intense energy of the match. The match ended in a 56-5 loss, but the Tritons walked away with renewed motivation. This game helped showcase the grit and passion of our players and our dedication to come back stronger in the next match.
1/25/25 - Tritons Dominate Against Santa Barbara
On the 25th day of the 25th year of the third millennium, the UC San Diego Women's Rugby Team displayed an utterly fabulous showing of their talents to kick off a very special season. The challengers, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, were an excellent matchup that made for an exhilarating, well-fought game.
The unparalleled 8-man, Lina Luedi, kicked things off with an impressive try in the first 6 minutes. Soon after, something historic happened. Our dominating fly half, Mia Taylor, kicked the ball out of bounds near the try line, setting up an unstoppable field maul that brought Chantal Earl straight to the try line to score!
The Gauchos fought back, scoring two tries, somehow surpassing our iron wall defense. When you mess with the Tritons, you don't get away with it! Soon thereafter, Mia Taylor's agility zoomed her to the try line, stiff-arming the helpless defenders. Whenever our props, Caelan Torres and Soph Trujillo, snagged onto the ball, they barrelled through Barbara's defense - consistently securing impressive yardage. We had great lineouts, especially our fantastic flanker, Mar Eichmann, being hoisted so high into the sky to steal the ball off an opponent lineout.
Our special left-winger, Alina Carino, made hard-hitting, try-saving tackles and lightning-fast runs, demonstrating the beast she is! Our agile center, Darya Massih, scored a beautiful try, speeding through Barbara's backline. Our dynamic flanker, Stella Dorsey, and prop, Soph Trujillo, scored two more tries as the cherries on top to finish the game.
Andrea Mota, the unstoppable force that she is, won the remarkable bling-bling Man of the Match award for her ability to skirt defenders and barrel through to score the try! If Barbara didn't have five people taking Andrea down every time she got the ball, she would gracefully waltz to the try line!
The Tritons fought against harsh winds, dry grass, and a worthy opponent. With a final score of 32-12, the Tritons are ready to keep the wins coming! Thank you, Santa Barbara, for coming down, and thank you to our coaches for shaping the Tritons to be unstoppable this season! Go Tritons!
11/17/24 - Scrum by the Sea 
It’s that time of year again… SCRUM BY THE SEA. It was a clash of the tridents as the UCSD Tritons took on the ASU Sundevils in their first matches of this beloved tournament. ASU, although known for their athleticism and aggression, was no match for the Mighty Tritons today. With excellent communication up and down the line and strong support on strong runs, Sara Tsai and Kelly Childs were able to score beautiful team tries. And with backs captain Megan Takeguchi converting both goals, UCSD walked off the field ahead 14-7, starting a 2-game undefeated streak.
The Tritons took on UCLA in their second game of the first day on a warm, sunny Warren field. Tritons did a great job starting strong and maintaining control of the ball in the first half. Quick to bounce back after UCLA scored two tries, President Sara Tsai started the UCSD scoring off strong by finding the gap and taking a fast run to score the try on the left side of the field. Stella Dorsey scored her very first try, receiving the ball and taking a great run through breaks in UCLA’s defense. Nikole Kron secured the conversion kick, putting UCSD up. Mia Taylor had great field vision, was able to see the space, and punched through the hole to score the try. Nikole Kron again kicked the conversion kick, keeping the Tritons ahead 19-10 at the half. Not tired by the first half of the game, the Tritons showed off their defensive skills, not letting UCLA score at all in the second half. Mia Taylor scored her second try of the game, showing off her grit at the line by pushing through after the team had been punching phase after phase. Vice president and forwards captain Lina Luedi made excellent use of their strength and pushed through UCLA’s defense to score the final try of the game. This match was filled with excellent carries, strong defense, and excellent ball control on offense. The Tritons secured the win with the final score of 29-10, putting them in the championship bracket for Sunday for the first time in recent UCSD Scrum by the Sea history.
‘Tritons!’ can be heard across Warren Field as the energized team sets up to receive the ball. It's the second day of Scrum by the Sea and the Tritons are undefeated facing last year’s league champions, also undefeated: the Claremont Foxes. The teams are slow to get points on the board but Claremont is persistent. They work down the field, pushing UCSD into their half and after some tough defense, across the line. Determined, the Tritons make their way back to the line and launch hard as Megan Takeuchi sends a high kick to Claremont. A few minutes of hard launches and tackles later, Claremont has another break putting the Tritons behind at a score of 12-0 going into the half. Sun still high, the Tritons kick-off to start the second half but quickly regain possession. Strong rucks allow them to move the ball efficiently across the field and they get closer to Claremont’s try zone until a gap opens. Flyhalf Mia Taylor takes it at pace and touches the ball down. UCSD is finally on the board! Spirits high, they catch the ball on the full and attack Claremont with renewed hunger. Hard work pays off when Darya Messih, playing at 13, explodes through the defensive wall and 2 more oncoming Claremont defenders. 2 phases are all it takes for the ball to make it back to Darya and she powers it over the line and home. Nikole Kron makes the conversion tying the game up 12-12. When time is called, the score is still tied but both teams can’t let this go unfinished. Claremont kicks off to UCSD for overtime, and the Tritons make sure to control the ball. Steadily they march up the field to the 5-yard line where Claremont holds them off, running down the clock. When Soph Trujillo breaks through and puts down the try, that's it. Cheers erupt: the Tritons have won 17-12!
Ending the tournament weekend with a close match, UCSD went against ASU for a contest characterized by a strong back-and-forth grasp at possession ending in a 14-12 win for Arizona State. The first try of the game was taken in by ASU after a solid defense countered UCSD's attempts at shifting possession. A successful conversion contributed to setting up ASU with a seven-point lead. UCSD soon responded with a strong, cohesive offensive strategy that utilized its forward pack to push through ASU's defensive line before unleashing its athletic backline on the left wing. Carried in by Mia Taylor, the Tritons put up 5 points just before the end of the half. Mirroring the end of the first half, the second half of this match saw the Triton's back line work in cohesion with its forward pods to find gaps in the Sun Devil's defensive line. With big strides taken by Darya Massih, UCSD was well positioned to power ball carrier, Brittney Quezada-Sanchez straight into the try zone. Paired with a successful conversion kick from Nikole Kron gave the Tritons a 12-7 lead. The second half of the match was no stranger to scrums, either, with the forward packs of each team meeting 6 times before the Sun Devils found a GP allowing their back line to carry the ball just short of the try before being taken down by the Tritons in a yellow-card call and receiving a penalty try that would provide them the 14-12 lead. Met with determination, UCSD continued to pick up and carry the ball just shy of the try, coming just short at the time, solidifying the match and tournament victory for ASU.
11/10/24 - W Rugby Mixed Touch Social
On another beautiful Sunday morning, the psycho rugby lovers on the men's and women’s teams trudged onto Warren after playing games the day before, busted up and sore, but still eager to run around under the sweltering sun for the love of the game. Numbers were a lot more conservative this week which was understandable, with many others opting out for recovery. But not the 13 mad dogs who groggily made their way onto the field.
With the lack of numbers, a round-robin was no longer viable. And so everyone just split off into 2 teams and we played 7-minute games against each other and mixed the teams around every 2 games. A standout player from the games, Chingi Lin, is among the top try scorers across the games with her impeccable timing, positioning and acceleration on the wing.
At the end of the day, it was a relatively more fun, freeform, and relaxed pickup game. But ultimately, the goal of these is to have fun and enjoy the sport of rugby with others who love the game. What better way to spend your Sunday mornings?
10/26/24 - First Touch Rugby Social
On a bright sunny Sunday morning, the women’s and mens rugby teams got together at Warren to play a little social touch pickup game style tournament. Despite the men coming off from a tough game the previous day, they still showed up and showed out. The purpose of this event was to give many of the rookie players a chance to run around and experience gameplay without the anxiety of being in a real match or being bull-dozed by a massive tackle. The vets would also get a chance to warm up their hands and get themselves in a competitive mindset for their first scrimmage against Miracosta and USD the week later. But at the end of the day, the main objective was to just get outside with the full UCSD rugby community and have some fun.
With the numbers, 4 teams were composed. The Neon Pumas, Bipolar Bengals, Orange Orangutang’s and Shirts. The tournament would be a round robin style, with each team playing each other before the points would be tallied to see who would play in a final. The Bipolar Bengals fell short with 1 loss and 2 draws, following the Shirts in 3rd place with 3 draws. In the final, we would see the Orange Orangutang’s with 1 win, 1 loss and 1 draw, against the undefeated Neon Pumas. In a shocking turn of events, the Orange Orangutang’s best the Neon Pumas in the final minutes with multiple tries by Luca Boccalato. An honourable mention to the lead try scorer Sebastien Chilcott from the Neon Pumas who put on a class display of athletic prowess.
With the final whistle, the day ended and the Orangutang’s were victorious. A solid turnout for the first touch social in a long time, and the first of many in the future. There’s nothing the rugby team loves more than a cheeky game of footy on a beautiful Sunday morning.
3/16/24 - San Diego Rivalry
The Tritons face their home town rivals, the San Diego State University Aztecs. On a sunny, windy day the teams meet on Warren field for Triton’s last game of the season and the last game for our seniors. The team starts the game strong with high intensity, everybody putting their bodies on the line for our seniors. We are in SDSU’s 22 for a majority of the game. To put our initial points on the board, Mackenzie Caldwell punches through the several Aztec defenders scoring a penalty try to put the Tritons ahead 7-5. At the start of the new half the Tritons put the Aztecs to the test, Sarah Overington draws the defender in to make a last minute offload to Darya Massih for her to finish the try and lengthen the Triton lead to 12-5. Darya then catches the ball right off the kickoff and with the confidence of the last try, runs the ball all the way across the field to score again, making the score 17-5. With the remaining time in the half and an incomplete roster due to injuries and finals, several Tritons made debuts at new positions, showing how versatile of players they can be. Unfortunately the Aztecs made a comeback and the Tritons were defeated 17-24.
3/9/24 - Battle of the UC's
In their penultimate game of the season, UCLA and UCSD faced off on the Triton’s home turf. The Tritons played impressively, keeping possession of the ball for the majority of the game. UCSD had an explosive first half, with amazing breakaways from forwards Sophia Trujillo and Brittney Quezada-Sanchez. UCSD had great command of the field, thanks to the skills of flyhalf Megan Takeuchi and captain Sarah Overington. The defensive play throughout the game was on point, with wingers Jessie Boyne and Lizzie Spencer making solid tackles on the outside. Kelly Dory and Nikole Kron both played splendidly as fullbacks, and filled in as other positions in the back line with ease. UCSD quickly adapted to the Bruins’ counter-rucking strategy and protected the ball with textbook seals. In the second half, a poach by Alexis Truman gave Mackenzie Caldwell the chance to score an incredible try, breaking UCLA’s last ditch defense to hold the ball up. Although the game ended in a loss 33-5, the Tritons kept their energy up throughout the match and played an awesome game of rugby.
3/3/24 - Tritons face the GCU Antelopes
On Sunday March 2nd, the Tritons went up against the GCU Antelopes in a hard fought battle. In minute one, our tritons stole the ball right from the GCU Antelopes and set the intensity of the game. From runs to scrums and everything in between, Mackenzie Caldwell consistently broke through the Antelope line, despite losing their cleat breaking half way through the second half. GCU, known for sending the ball with a kick and running on were quickly shut down by no other than Kelly Dory and Nikole Kron who both had hands of steel and caught each ball with ease and made a break for the line sending GCU in a state of frenzy. Brittney Quezada-Sanchez kept each Antelope player on their toes with fantastic footwork and finding the gaps. Without a doubt though, the Tritons defense became the iron wall for the GCU Antelopes. With not one, not two, but three try saving tackles! The first, made by Dory, happens on a break away in which Dory flew in the air to take down the GCU player. The next, Jessie Boyne stopped one of their strongest players dead in their tracks and allowed the rest of our defense to set up. And finally Adcharapon Wang was able to snatch the ankles from right under another GCU player as they were just about to score. Amazing tackles were also made by Alexis Truman, Lizzie Spencer and Sarah Overington. While the final score was 0-78, the UCSD Tritons fought to the end, displaying true dedication to their team. The Tritons won in the passion, heart and spirit and they are coming out of this stronger than ever.
2/23/24 - UCSD vs Claremont
The Triton’s game against the Claremont Foxes on February 24th started off strong with a catch from Mack, which set the tone for an exhausting yet exhilarating match. Nikole played fullback well, making many impressive tackles that saved our defensive line. Tsai poached the ball and made a great run before unfortunately subbing out due to a knee injury. Lara took a painful tackle like a champ and even passed the ball while taking an elbow to the gut! Soph impressed everyone with her ability to break through the Foxes’ defensive line multiple times. The referee clearly liked our team and made many positive comments about our scrums and our game in general. Towards the end of the game, Leila offloaded the ball to Kelsey who in turn offloaded to Mack, Alexis poached twice and Dory made a try-saving tackle. Although the Tritons lost the game 72-0, our team maintained a great attitude on the pitch, improved in comparison to previous games and had a great time playing.
2/10/24 - Tritons Face the Desert Cold
The Tritons walked on the field of University of Arizona bright and early in 40 degree weather. As the game started, UofA kicked off to the Tritons and the match was even with quick hands through both forward and back lines with Tritons carrying position. U of A had solid scrums and were able to kick it out of their side but with full back Nikole Kron catching the kicks, the Tritons were persistent on driving in. As the match went on U of A was able to slip by and score a try making the game 0-5. UofA took back possession after receiving the next kick off but as they attempted to score another try the Tritons used their “hit the beach” play and fenced the opposing players out regaining possession. The second half began and Brittney Quezada-Sanchez had quick breakaways giving Tritons yards on the field. Following the first half, UofA slipped away again with the score being 0-12. As the game was coming to an end Tritons stayed strong with great hands from Sarah Overington and Chantal Earl and take downs by Mackenzie Caldwell. The 80 minutes went by, the final score was 0-12 with the sun peaking out at the end.
1/27/24 - Tritons vs Sun Devils
L (12-24)
On Saturday the 27 of January, the UCSD Tritons went against the ASU Sun Devils in our opening home game of the season. With a quick start off in the game, within the first 10 minutes of the game Mackenzie Caldwell barreled through the sun devils defense to even the score with an amazing try. Putting us ahead with a score of 7-5, Nikole Kron made the following conversion with her consistent and accurate kick. The tritons kept up the intensity during the game while demonstrating great communication on the team and an overall positive and uplifting attitude despite the heat of the day. Soon after our conversion, our strong rookie Chantal Earl, playing lock, made her first ever try. An exciting highlight of the game that caused a quick celebration by the team before resuming the game. Soon into the second half, we had many subs enter the field bringing in fresh legs and energy to the tritons team. After a quick blood sub Sara Tsai came in bringing the heat as outside center. As well, Alexis Truman entered the field ready to drive forward out scrums as loose prop. The young freshman rookie, Marianne Eichmann, with bright blue cleats dashed in to support the sides of the scrum as flank, moving the tackling beast, Soobin Jones, into lock. Next we had our lovely and strong Kelly Dory fill in as full back. The one and only Mandy Frazer came into the game half way through the second half, followed by Isabelle Ocampo who entered in to keep the scrum tight as hooker. The fast and strategic Allison Gomez then entered the game ready to give it her all. And for the last sub of the game Leila Herschenfeld came onto the field ready to run onto the ball, pushing Sara Tsai to prove her diverse abilities by moving to flanker. Despite ending in a loss of 12-24 against ASU, UCSD played an amazing game showing their commitment and love for the sport on the sunny day.
1/19/24 - Muddy Start to the Season
Loss (7-17)
The Tritons women’s Rugby team faced the UCSB Gauchos this Saturday in their first regular season game. The first half started off strong as rain pelted down on both teams. UCSB scored their first try in the 6th minute, quickly followed by an amazing UCSD try by Lina Luedi. Lina stole the ball directly from the hands of a running UCSB’s player, following up that move with a run all the way to the opposing try zone. Backing up Lina’s try, Nikole Kron kicked an amazing conversion, for an additional two points. Both teams continued fighting: running and tackling in the puddles and mud. The field only continued to get more torn up as both teams gave it their all. Despite UCSDs strong defense UCSB scored two more try’s and one conversion in the remaining 25 minutes of the first half. In the second half UCSD kicked it up a notch, keeping possession of the ball for almost all of the 40 minutes. However the Gaucho defense was strong as well, stopping the Tritons attempts to score. When the final whistle blew the score was 17-7 Gauchos to Tritons. Thank you to UCSB for hosting and playing a great game, we’ll be looking forward to a rematch next year.
