Charles W. River

The ladies of Charles River built their first victory from the ground up this past Saturday, christening Moakley Park with the freshly-painted try lines they would later cross en route to a come-from-behind win against Portland, Maine. The match showcased a self-motivated surge that unified an initially frustrated collection of Lady Rats into a steamrolling ensemble of intensity, grit and skill that overpowered Portland before the game’s end.

Early in the first half, Portland recovered a loose ball in Charles River’s try zone after a violently gusty wind had foiled multiple River attempts to send the ball down field via kick. Portland steadfastly held the pressure on River, pushing them back into their own end. The visitors made it 10-0 when they successfully touched down another try despite several Charles River players trying to hold the ball up; and the Lady Rats found themselves down by two scores before the conclusion of a half hour of play.

The tipping scoreboard awakened something in the River ladies. As they returned to midfield to kick the ball back to a Portland team that commanded much of the match’s first third, veteran members of the Rat squad began a vociferous campaign for a turnaround bid. In one congruous effort, Charles River began a defensive insurgency that ground the forging Portland offensive to a halt. With River sprouting an assembled resistance, Portland was unable to score again and it remained 10-0 at the half.

A different pack of Lady Rats emerged in the second forty minutes, after words of focus and motivation from captains Alicia Evangelista and Jenn “JVK” VanKuren, and coaches Carl Morris and Hal Baker. With channeled indivisibility, River began to turn things around. The Rat forwards maintained possession, making several short, powerful runs. They orchestrated a fluid series of intra-pack offloads, while also maintaining ball control during breakdowns. River also held a series of spectacular line outs. The veteran trio of captain Alicia Evangelista, Chrissy “C” Andronico and Linda Morris seized numerous Portland throws, initiating key possession changes that helped turn the tide for River.

Though the grassroots of a Rat comeback began late in the first half, it started to manifest itself in points when center Jenny “JFo” Forshner punched in Charles River’s first try on a power run through multiple stunned Portland defenders. The Lady Rats, buoyed by their score, began to turn frustrations into triumphs. Stretches of River possession lengthened as communication and organization mounted for CRWRFC. On the strength of sharpened passes and strong rucks, the Rat pack and Rat backs worked together to drive onto Portland’s turf. Amanda Bernasconi made several crucial picks in forward play while she anchored a strong River scrum in her debut at 8-man. Bernasconi earned a Bitch of the Pitch nod after turning in a glittering effort befitting a seasoned #8.

River tied the game when CRWRFC powerhouse Chrissy ‘C” Andronico charged over Portland’s turf, touching down the ball in the left side of Portland’s try zone. River celebrated, then watched as flyhalf Alex Schmidt attempted the long conversion. In wind that had prevented either kicker from splitting the uprights all morning, Schmidt laced a hard liner that collided with the right post. River took back to the ground with the score 10-10.

Reading both the wind and the Portland defense, Schmidt made a series of play calls that led the Rat backs to break into a string of successful carries. Fullback Maegan Hoover, who had chased down all of Portland’s windswept kicks in the first half, twice broke to inside the visitors’ five meter line. Jess Ingram-Bee also proved slippery for Portland, bypassing several defenders during runs late in the game. By maintaining pressure, the Lady Rats crafted themselves an opportunity to take the match. While they backed the opponents into their own try zone, River swallowed a frantic Portland attempt to clear the ball with a kick. Madame President Lisa Natalicchio, River’s skilled Hooker, touched the ball down in the Portland zone, giving the Rats the lead for the first time. In a display of conversion-kicking prowess, Alex Schmidt captured the two points despite what Coach Carl Morris called a “fifteen point wind”. It would be the only kick that either team converted during the game. Schmidt earned the captains’ nod for backs’ Bitch of the Pitch after contributing numerous influential play calls, reads, passes, kicks, and instructions to her teammates during the match.

River would maintain possession and pressure through the final minutes, and, with the three unanswered second-half tries, and one conversion kick, they would take the win with a final score of 17-10. The Rats were keen to celebrate a spectacular effort and momentum shift that carried them to their first victory. The coaching staff and captains praised the heart of the Charles River ladies, who, despite initial struggles, had spurred themselves into the dominant unit that would earn the W.

Minutes later, the ladies of Chuck River and Portland reset for a B-side bout that rubber-stamped Saturday’s Rat reign. Catalyzing a new and skillful set of River ladies, Colleen Shea pulled double-duty to help lead River to a second victory after flanking the A-side pack. Shea made several hard tackles and strong runs for River before breaking into the Portland try zone for the Rat’s first score. Shea would also attempt the conversions for Charles River’s second game, resorting to dropkicks after a feisty wind kept the ball from resting on the tee.

The Lady Rats would put down another after Nicole “Chaboozi” Bure, also making a return appearance, tossed aside Portland defenders and broke free for a long run down field. Bure would be Portland’s Pick of the Game for Saturday, as the visitors cited their inability to contain the power forward during either match. Portland finally made the tackle well inside their 22-yard marker, but River’s Lupe Thun had been running in support of Bure. Thun scooped up the ball and covered the remaining distance, touching the ball down to bring the Lady Rats to ten points.

An inaugural CRWRFC try occurred for newcomer Diana Ekman, when the speedy wing received a pass on the edge of the Portland defense. The Ratpack and Rat backs had moved the ball well together all afternoon, and Ekman’s try represented no exception. A series of cerebral plays and well-timed transition, led by scrumhalf Steph Wooler, moved the ball fluidly out to Ekman, who over matched Portland though open space. Colleen Shea would place a dropkick through the uprights, bringing the afternoon to twin 17-10 tallies in favor of Charles River. Shea took home the captain’s honors for B-side play after her influential and well-rounded performance. Again impressed with a congealed squad of Lady Rats, captains and coaches applauded a second resolute effort from the team on the day.

River completed its hat trick of W’s as the orange and green hosted Portland for a post-game social at Charlestown’s Tavern on the Water. With the Boston skyline and the afternoon sun both glittering on the harbor, the Rats of the Game edged out the Maine ladies, coming from behind once again.

Charles River will host Burlington, Vermont, this Saturday the 17^th at their home Moakley Park. Kickoff time is scheduled for 2pm.