(Photo: NOVA flanker Megan Hanson scored the game-winning try against Boston. Edith Herring photo.)

NOVA improved to 2-0 in DI’s CR3, outlasting Boston 36-26 yesterday. The bonus-point win has put the Virginia side atop the regional standings.

“The game wasn’t truly decided until the final minutes,” NOVA coach Brian Walker said. “Boston played us extremely tough, just like Philly did. Their whole team has improved immensely since we played them a year ago.”

Walker was impressed by Boston forwards, who ran hard around the breakdown and did well to maintain possession through multiple phases.

“Their backs showed good speed and tackling, as well as some attacking flair under windy conditions,” Walker added. “I don’t think we handled the wing as well as they did. Emily Malking played wing across from Erica Cavanaugh and did a tremendous job, making a number of clutch tackles to keep the score close. She might have had the best game out of anyone on either side.”

But as good as Malkin played, it wasn’t enough to silence Cavanaugh completely. The USA 7s Eagle is incredibly difficult to pull down, especially when she’s got some room to gain steam. The wing accounted for the first try 15 minutes in and would score another breakaway five-pointer in the second half.

Ten minutes later and Boston was on the board with converted try, which evolved through a series of aggressive forward phases and NOVA penalties at the breakdown. NOVA answered back on the ensuing possession, when an errant Boston pass hit the ground in the centers and and bounced up for NOVA center Emily Blease to collect on the fly and run in for the second try. Primo hit her second conversion for the 14-7 lead into the break.

Boston was ready for the fight and on the second-half kickoff, reclaimed their kick and used that momentum to score five minutes into the half, 14 all.

But another Boston miscue allowed NOVA to pull ahead, as flyhalf Amber Benlian pounced on a loose ball in midfield and quickly moved the ball to Cavanaugh, who scored her second long try. Primo’s conversion made it 21-14.

The continuity began to gel, and NOVA was able to tack on 10 more points on tries from No. 8 Rosie Daley and flanker Megan Hanson, whose score proved to be the game-winner.

Down 31-14, Boston continued to battle and tacked on two more unconverted tries with 10 minutes remaining (31-26).

Boston threw everything they had at NOVA, creating several linebreaks that left the defense scrambling. Boston looked to run in another score, but NOVA managed to turnover a ruck and Benlian built a counterattack that eventually put center Mo McQueen into the try zone with a few minutes left, 36-26.

“Playing on the road in CR3 is tough, so any game where you leave town with a win is a good trip,” Walker said. “I was extremely proud of our collective focus when the score was tight. We really had to fight there at the end.  And I am very happy with all the players who have stepped up in these first two weeks, particularly our reserves who have come in as closers to finish these matches.  That depth bodes well for the future.  But as we go into our bye week, we have to take a critical look at all phases of our game and we have improvements we need to make across the board, with defense clearly being a big one.”