CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior Cassidy Bargell and junior Achele Agada each scored two tries to go along with 13 points from first-year Chloe Headland as Harvard women's rugby beat Mount Saint Mary's University, 53-5, in its season and home opener on Friday evening at Mignone Field. 
 
Playing for the first time since Nov. 17, 2019 – a span of 656 days – the Crimson (1-0) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with a try from Agada less than three minutes into the contest. The score remained 7-0 until Headland converted a penalty kick with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half. Harvard kept the Mountaineers off the scoresheet with stingy defense in front of the try zone. Sophomore Nafanua Malietoa Fitisemanu and Bargell ended the half with consecutive tries that saw Harvard take a 22-0 lead into the break.  

Harvard got out to a quick start in the second half with junior Alex Pipkin scoring a try less than two minutes in. The Crimson settled in, seeing Agada and Bargell both add a second try while senior Emma Kearney and first-year Kiani Akina rounded out the scoring. 

"It feels great," senior Erica Jarrell said. "It's been really exciting to be back to see what our first-years – and also our sophomores who have never played before – can do. Obviously, we had a huge crowd. It means so much that we have built support for this program, and it has carried through. It felt like our final game, and it's only our Friday opener. I'm really honored to play for a school that supports us so much." 
 
Harvard Highlights 

• First-year Chloe Headland was the game's leading scorer, tallying 13 points across five conversions and a penalty kick. 
• Senior Cassidy Bargell broke free for two tries, coming off a 2019 season which saw her score six tries. 
• Junior Achele Agada scored the first try of the season for the Crimson and the sixth and seventh of her Harvard career. 
• Senior Emma Kearney, junior Alex Pipkin, sophomore Nafanua Malietoa Fitisemanu, and first-year Kiani Akina all scored their first tries of the season for the Crimson. 

Game Notes 

• This marks the fifth consecutive opening game win for the program.
• Harvard improves to 2-0 in the all-time series against Mount Saint Mary's. 
• The Crimson are now 10-0 in their last 10 games played at Mignone Field. 

What's Next? 
Harvard will take on LIU in another home contest on Saturday, Sept. 11 at noon (ESPN+) before heading to Fairfield, Conn., to take on Sacred Heart University on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 11:00 a.m.