COLUMBIA, MD. – The Villa Maria women's flag football team rallied from a 7-6 deficit to upset undefeated Rutgers University, 12-7, in the second game of a doubleheader of the National Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL) Maryland Championship Tournament on March 28 at Howard Community College.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Villa 12, Rutgers 7
LOCATION: Columbia, Md. | Howard Community College Practice Fields
TEAM RECORDS: Villa (5-1), Rutgers University (4-1)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Vikings opened the scoring on Villa's second play after a 60-yard catch by Alannah Bushorr for a 6-0 lead.
• The Scarlet Knights responded with a scoring throw of their own to take a 7-6 lead on their first possession.
• In the back-and-forth between the teams, Villa got the game-winning drive on its next possession after another Bushorr reception to cap and eight-play drive for a 12-7 lead.
• The remainder of the game featured each of the team's defenses with Villa making its best stop on a fourth-down play inside the 5-yard line on Rutgers' first possession of the second half.
• Brianna Shalinsky finished with a pair of TD passes.
• Gianna Marciano led the defense with six stops and several pass breakups.
• Kiara Mercado also had multiple stops to go with a pair of pass breakups.
• The win extended Villa's win streak to five games.
• It was the Scarlet Knights' first defeat of the season.

UP NEXT:
The Vikings wrap up play in National Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL) Maryland Tournament with another doubleheader on Sunday, March 29 starting with Kean University at 9 a.m. followed by Mercyhurst University at 11:40 a.m.