Valkyries Battle Through Seven Games in Week 3
October 4, 2026 | Weis Park, Canton, Ohio
Week 3 of the 2026 Rugby Ohio Fall 7s season brought the Brunswick Valkyries back to Weis Park for another full day of rugby. With seven matches on the schedule, three for the A-side and four for the B-side, there would be no shortage of opportunities to test the team's growing chemistry, toughness, and depth.
And with a beautiful day settling over the park, the Valkyries were ready to get to work.
By the end of the day, the A-side would finish 1-2 while the B-side battled to a 3-1 record. Seven games brought seven different challenges, and the Valkyries answered each one with the same mentality: keep fighting, keep supporting each other, and keep moving forward.
B-Side Opens With a Statement
The B-side got the day started against West Pitt B, and they wasted little time making their presence known.
The Valkyries came out firing, building a commanding 28-0 lead by halftime. The offense was clicking, the defense was putting pressure on West Pitt, and the B-side looked completely in control.
Isabella Butscher. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
West Pitt managed to find some opportunities in the second half, but the Valkyries continued to answer. When the final whistle sounded, Brunswick had secured a convincing 35-15 victory. A strong start to the day, and the B-side was just getting warmed up.
A-Side Faces a Tough West Pitt Test
Next came the A-side matchup against West Pitt A.
The Valkyries found themselves trailing at halftime and faced the challenge of trying to turn the match around against a strong West Pitt side. Brunswick continued to battle, but West Pitt maintained control through the second half.
The final score landed at 33-5, giving the Valkyries their first loss of the day. It wasn't the result the A-side wanted, but the day was far from over.
B-Side Keeps Rolling
If the first B-side match was a statement, the second was a declaration.
Against Highland B, the Valkyries once again came out aggressively and refused to let their opponents find any rhythm. Brunswick raced to another 28-0 halftime lead, combining strong attacking play with relentless defense.
Gianna Ferrara. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
The second half brought more of the same.
By the final whistle, the scoreboard read 40-0.
A shutout. A 40-point performance. And a B-side squad that was showing exactly how dangerous it could be when everything clicked.
A-Side and St. Joseph Trade Blows
The A-side returned to the field against St. Joseph A in what would become one of the day's first nail-biters.
Neither team was willing to give an inch.
At halftime, the scoreboard stood at 7-7, with everything still to play for. The second half became a back-and-forth battle, with both teams finding ways to attack and respond.
Avery Plesec. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
Brunswick pushed all the way to the final whistle, but St. Joseph managed to hold on for a narrow 19-17 victory. Two points separated the Valkyries from a win. The A-side had taken another tough lesson from the field, but they weren't finished yet.
B-Side Finds Itself in a Similar Battle
St. Joseph B gave the B-side its toughest challenge of the day.
After falling behind 14-5 at halftime, Brunswick had work to do.
The Valkyries fought their way back into the match, steadily closing the gap and refusing to let the deficit dictate the outcome. The second half became a battle of determination, with both teams pushing for every point.
Sophie Dockweiler. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
Brunswick ultimately came up just short, falling 19-17. Another two-point result. Another match that came down to the wire.
But the B-side still had one more game waiting.
A-Side Saves Its Best for Last
The A-side entered its final match of the day against Hudson A knowing there was still an opportunity to finish the day on a high note.
Hudson held the advantage at halftime, 17-14, putting the Valkyries in another close contest. But this time, Brunswick wasn't letting the opportunity slip away.
The Valkyries battled back in the second half, finding the scores they needed while continuing to pressure Hudson. The comeback was complete when the final whistle sounded, with Brunswick securing a hard-earned 24-22 victory.
After two narrow losses earlier in the day, the A-side answered with a two-point win of its own. That's rugby.
B-Side Finishes With Another Thriller
The B-side closed out the day's action against West Pitt C, and fittingly, the final match delivered another thriller.
The teams were locked at 10-10 at halftime, setting up another 14-minute battle with everything still undecided. Neither side was willing to back down.
Megan Pepka & Olivia McDonald. Photo by Spencer Dockweiler.
The Valkyries kept pushing, finding opportunities when they needed them and holding their nerve as the match tightened. When the final whistle finally came, Brunswick had completed the comeback with a 24-22 victory. A two-point win to close a seven-game day.
And with that, the B-side finished Week 3 with an impressive 3-1 record.
The Battle Maidens
A-Side Battle Maiden: Avery Plesec
Avery earned the A-side Battle Maiden Award after making her presence felt throughout the day. She consistently created opportunities for her teammates, drawing defenders and opening space for others to attack. Her powerful runs kept the A-side moving forward, while her ability to contribute to the team's overall chemistry made her an important piece of the squad's attack. Avery wasn't simply looking for her own opportunities. She was creating them for the Valkyries around her.
B-Side Battle Maiden: Gianna Ferrara
Gianna was everywhere. Her Week 3 performance included line breaks, support runs, and chase-downs that repeatedly put her in the middle of the action. Every time Gianna stepped onto the field, she found a way to make an impact. Her work rate never disappeared, and her ability to support the play from one phase to the next helped make a difference throughout the B-side's 3-1 day.
Queen's Standard: Megan Pepka
Megan battled through injury, but somehow managed to keep a smile on her face and her focus on the team. Her impact wasn't measured only by what she could do on the field. Megan found every possible way to support her teammates, whether that meant cracking a joke at the right moment, encouraging the girls around her, or helping her teammates lift each other up. That's what the Queen's Standard represents. Character. Leadership. Team-first mentality. Megan showed all three.
Seven Games. One Team.
Week 3 brought everything a rugby team could ask for: dominant performances, hard-fought battles, narrow losses, dramatic comebacks, and plenty of opportunities to grow.
The A-side finished 1-2.
The B-side finished 3-1.
But the bigger story was the continued development of a team learning how to play together, fight together, and support each other through every result. Three weeks into the Fall 7s season, the Valkyries are continuing to build something. The chemistry is growing. The confidence is growing. And the standard keeps getting higher.
The next chapter comes Sunday, October 11th.
Until then, the work continues.
Cover photo by Spencer Dockweiler.