The Penn State women's rugby team opened the first round of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football (MARFU) playoffs with an 84-0 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday. The first-seeded Lady Ruggers scored a try in the opening minute of the game and never looked back, cruising to an easy win.

Winger Rachel Thomas made a long run around the defense and down the sideline to begin Penn State's offensive output 28 seconds into the game. Thomas' run opened the floodgates, and the Lady Ruggers accumulated a total of seven tries and four conversion kicks in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Penn State added two more tries before the half ended -- a breakaway around the defense by winger Emily Donaldson, and a long run down the middle of the field by flanker Kristin Snyder. Snyder's score came with 37 seconds left in the half and increased the Lady Ruggers' lead to 53-0 at halftime. Penn State's offensive dominance translated to more than a point per minute during the 40-minute half.

"We struggled with Virginia Tech's size early; they are big and strong and committed to the ruck, but when we won the rucks we were able to open them up," Penn State head coach Pete Steinberg said.

The second half began less quickly for the Lady Ruggers, and they did not score until nine minutes into the half. It was then that scrumhalf Shelly White made a short run around the defense to jumpstart Penn State's second half.

After another try and a successful conversion kick from Donaldson, Ruggers' captain Amber Benlin punched in two tries. Both of Benlin's scores came on plays where several passes from teammates allowed her to emerge from a pack of Virginia Tech defenders.

Thomas scored a final try, and, after another successful conversion kick from Donaldson, the game ended with the Ruggers on top 84-0. In total, Penn State recorded 14 tries and made seven conversion kicks in the match.

"Virginia Tech has improved a lot over the past few years. The score is not a reflection of the game, it is a reflection of our experience," Steinberg said.

Offense was not the only area of the match where the Lady Ruggers excelled; their defense was strong as well. During the entire game, Virginia Tech crossed into Penn State territory just five times, with only two of these efforts coming close to the try zone. Donaldson attributed this effort to solid teamwork by the Lady Ruggers.

"We had good support and good communication today; we made sure that everyone was where they should be," she said.

With the win, Penn State advances to next weekend's MARFU championships to face rival Princeton in Richmond, Va. The final four teams will play on Saturday, with the two winning teams facing off for the championship on Sunday.

"We have played Princeton three or four times in national championship games in the past; it will be a great game," Steinberg said.