Nashotah, WI–Hamilton fought hard to earn their first regular season win by defeating the Kettle Moraine Co-Op team 19-10.
Hamilton entered the contest with some confidence after a pre-season half that Hamilton won 31-10 despite being short four players to Kettle Moraine. But the Kettle Moraine team they faced on Sunday was a whole different team.
Hamilton took the lead right before the halftime whistle and never lost it after sophomore Jessie Endries off-loaded the ball to sophomore Mackenzie Kolesari who took the ball, with a Kettle Moraine player on her back, in for the score to put the team up 7-5.
But the early parts of the game were controlled by Kettle Moraine who commanded the first twenty minutes of the match with strong runs and confident rucking. Kettle Moraine was the first to get on the score sheet when they used a penalty and some efficient rucking close to the tryline to take the lead, 5-0, when their #2 finished the drive by diving across the line for the score.
Ten minutes into the second half Kolesari received an off-load from junior MyKayla Pena before weaving her way through the back line for a her second score of the game, increasing Hamilton’s lead 12-5.
But Kettle Moraine wouldn’t quit. After winning their own lineout at the 22, Kettle Moraine strung together some strong runs and some courageous rucks to setup #1’s diving score into the front corner of the try, bringing the score to 12-10.
Hamilton put the game away with a long run by junior Calla Dane after she was brought down close to the tryline. Kolesari picked up the ball after the ensuing ruck and dove across the line to complete her first career hat trick.
The final whistle came as Hamilton was called for a knock on one meter away from scoring their fourth try.
–Koelsari was the second player in school history to record a hat trick. Hannah Pfersch also score a hat trick against Kettle Moraine in their pre-season friendly. Kolesari became the first Hamilton player to do it in a WGR sanctioned game.
–Abby DePue made her rugby debut.
–No Hamilton players left the game because of injury.
Fantastic Five
- Mackenzie Kolesari
- She record 8 tackles and score 15 of the team’s 19 points.
- Hannah Pfersch
- Hannah had some good runs and 11 tackles.
- Abby DePue
- Had an impressive debut and made 8 tackles.
- Taylor Fryda
- Had a solid performance at fly, recording 6 tackles.
- Sarah Michalski
- Kept the opposition in front of her, as fullback, and made both of her kicks.
Hamilton RFC 