WOMEN'S RUGBY

Women’s Rugby: Four Cadets Selected To Under-19 All-Star Team

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Selections for the Northeast Under-19 women's rugby all-star team are in, and four members of the Cadets have made the cut. Three players are returning members of the team: Katie Hathaway, Alicia Seda and Corinne McElroy. Making the team for the first time this year is sophomore Marlene Dwyer.

Hathaway is a member of the USA U-20 National Team and will certainly be a leader of the Northeast select side. She has enjoyed an outstanding sophomore season at Norwich, running in eight tries in 12 matches and providing tough central defense. Her work ethic is non-stop, and she approaches each practice and game as if it was the Super Bowl.

Seda was a member of the U-20 national 50-player pool last spring after scoring two tries in the National All-Star Championships. She has been playing wing for Norwich most of the season, but will most likely see time at prop or flanker for the all-star team. A tough player with a special burst of speed, Seda could play most any position on the field. She has scored six tries in 11 matches for Norwich this fall.

McElroy is a freshman at Norwich this year who has played for the Northeast U-19 all-stars for two previous seasons. She has also seen time in the USA jersey for the U-20 national team. A resilient flanker or lock, McElroy excels at the line-out and in field coverage. Her rugby intelligence is outstanding. She is the only Norwich player to start all 14 matches this season and has scored one try.

Marlene Dwyer is a sophomore rook who is new to the game. Her athletic background is primarily hockey, but she has made a phenomenal transition to rugby this year. She plays hooker and flanker and is the smallest player in the Norwich line-up.  Her footwork, tackling, and support play set her apart. She has played in 11 matches this season and just scored her first try last weekend in the team's 36-0 win over Bryant University.

Selected as alternates to the travelling team were Norwich sophomores Caroline Bell (prop) and Katie Gingras (flyhalf/lock).

"An excellent crew to represent Norwich at the all-star championships," said NU head coach Austin Hall.  "The three returning players have improved their game since the last go ‘round, and Marlene adds a new exciting spark to any lineup. I wish them the best of luck."

The U-19 National All-Star Championships will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 21 and 22.  Last year's Northeast squad finished second out of eight teams, losing a close battle with the West all-stars in the Championship match. The team is coached by K.O. Onufry, Kevin O'Brien and Nick McCardle of Middlebury College.