Women's rugby began its 2021 DIA season with a 39-17 victory against Life University Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri.  

Penina Tuilaepa, Isabel Manu, and Fane Haungatau brought physicality and Richelle Stephens, Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru, and Caring De Freitas led the back line and team with their calm, yet urgent demeanor and decision making.  

Haungatau scored first and Natalie Gray added the conversion to put the Lions up 7-0, but Life answered with an unconverted try to pull within two points.  As the first half continued, the Running Eagles were penalized a handful of times on defense, ultimately resulting in a yellow card due to offsides and not rolling away.  A successful penalty kick gave Lindenwood a 10-5 advantage, but Life scored again to tie the match.  

From that point, the Lions started to control the game and took the lead for good when Morgan Freeman scored and Gray booted the conversion to make it 17-10.  As time ran out in the first half, De Freitas dove into the try zone on the edge to give Lindenwood a 22-10 advantage at the break.

De Freitas scored again to open the second half, followed by a try from Moira Dillow to expand the lead to 32-10.  The Running Eagles managed to enter the zone one more time with a conversion, but that was the end of their offensive output.  The Lions went through the hands of the backs for one more try with Taina Scott carrying the ball over the line.  The ensuing conversion gave Lindenwood 39 points and the final margin in the match.

Prior to the First XV contest, the second XV squads met with the Lions earning a 24-15 win.

Both of the Lindenwood and Life squads will face each other again in two weeks on March 6 in Marietta, Georgia.  Start times are yet to be determined.