The final matches of the season for Rye’s girls rugby team produced a win and a last-minute loss for the Garnets, but it also showed everyone how far the program has come in just a few years.
The team wrapped up its 2024 season recently with five wins and two losses after beating Greenwich (Conn.) High and losing to the Horace Mann School in a round-robin tournament.
The May 8 home games doubled as senior night for Rye High’s nine graduating team members. The seniors – Izzy Godden, Kiki Keith, Karis Repetto, Milena Jovanovic, Camila Leon Bolivar, Marra Storey, Rory Baer, and Meredith Ward – received personalized posters and roses from their teammates before the tournament’s start. Families and friends then cheered for all the girls as “tries” were scored and opposing players were tackled throughout the matches.
Determined to bring it all home from the very start, the team reigned supreme in the first game, against Greenwich, with a 17-12 victory. Junior Molly Kennedy was the team’s top scorer, while freshman Darcy Lawrence did a great job on defense and as scrum-half.
In their second match, Rye faced Horace Mann, a rugby powerhouse from the Bronx. The Garnets weren’t able to secure a win, losing to the Lions 12-17. “In terms of outstanding plays, we had Molly Kennedy hit a very difficult field goal to put us up 12-10 with a minute left in the game,” assistant coach Allyson Furcick said. “Unfortunately, the other team then won – but it was an incredible kick. We also had outstanding tackles from Kiki Keith and classic stiff arms and running from Milena Jovanovic.”
As the tournament ended, players from all three teams shared a pizza dinner alongside the field.
“I’ve been playing rugby since freshman year alongside Kiki Keith,” co-captain Izzy Godden said. “We went from playing with the boys team – with no games [for the girls] – to having coaches, a booster club, and games almost every week.
“Senior night just showed us how far we’ve both come as players, friends, and captains,” she added. “It was a chance for us to see and appreciate what we built together.”