Despite wet and muddy playing conditions, the Lady Ruggers defied Mother Nature yet again and defeated rival Navy, 17-14, during their final seasonal game last Sunday.

The victory also helped Penn State receive the top seed in the MARFU tournament that starts next spring.

"We got our heads in the game and played very well despite the horrible conditions," president Kristen Synder said.

Even though the Lady Ruggers eventually played a successful game, the match was delayed a half-hour because East Field was in such poor condition.

"When we got to the field, it was in horrendous shape," Synder said. "There were tire tracks so deep in the mud that we had to even out. Then we realized there was a truck on the field."

After the team managed to push the truck off the field, the game started off slow with each team having trouble adapting to the thick mud. Minutes into the half, Penn State's Kate Daley plowed through Navy's defense and scored the first and only try of the half. Penn State also dominated in scrums and line-outs, keeping the ball in Navy's territory for most of the half. Many penalties were called against Penn State, causing them to act frantically.

"Every time we got frantic or if people capitalized on one of our mistakes, we just reminded each other that we moved a truck 20 minutes before kickoff," Snyder said.

The Lady Ruggers came out strong at beginning of the second half and took advantage of their forwards' strengths to drive the ball down the field. Forward Pamela Coutts had her strongest game of the season and used the muddy conditions to her advantage for offensive drive.

"I was very mentally focused the entire game," Coutts said. "I was able to take the ball into contact and with the aid of my teammates, we were really able to create forward movement."

Fullback Diana Klein scored the second try off a pass from wing Catherine Cruz-Ortiz, who received the ball off a blindside play set up by Daley.

"In the second half, we started adapting to the conditions better," Klein said. "We realized what we needed to do in order to score some more points."

Although the Lady Ruggers intensified their aggressiveness, some of their sloppy plays gave Navy opportunities to move the ball into Penn State's territory. Navy soon picked up a dropped ball and scored its first try of the game. Penn State's offense fought back and drove a scrum across the tryline. Kate Daley touched the ball down and Meghan Byrnes successfully made the conversion.

Navy managed to score a penalty try and a conversion, but Penn State held them off for the win.

After this big win and the ending of the competitive fall season, the Lady Ruggers will maintain their lifting routine and prepare for the spring.

"We played well during this fall season," Synder said. "But we are aware of what our weaknesses are more than we have been in the past. This is good because it means we can come back in January ready to focus on those weaknesses."