Winona center duo Lachen Esters (l) and Megan Wolff. /// Photo: Katie Derus •
For the 10th consecutive year, Winona is league champion, winning the Northern Lights title after Mankato State forfeited Saturday’s match. St. Cloud State finished 4-1 and also advances to the DII Round of 32 on Nov. 12. Fortunately, the Black Katts were able to replace last weekend’s fixture with a friendly against Wayne State College in Nebraska.
Wayne State and Winona share similar struggles when it comes to competition. The Wildcats compete in the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO), and as a former 15s champion and current 7s champion, it longs for local tests. Take a look at former DII fall champion Winona’s league results and realize that the Minnesota team is in a similar position. Therefore, the two were eager to play each other in the last-minute, post-season warm-up.
The teams agreed on a 60-minute match followed by a second-team game that included UW La Crosse (Great Waters) and a few Winona players. Wayne State’s forwards were aggressive and quick to the breakdowns, and they embraced a pick-and-go offense. Winona absorbed it well, but generally speaking, the packs were well matched.
The Black Katts looked to their backs to apply additional pressure. While the back three of MVP Rachel Hannigan, Morgan Klitzke and Haley Cederberg smothered Wayne State’s breakaways, the front three of Cassie Schultz, Megan Wolff and Lachen Esters were big on the defensive front, forcing handling and timing issues.
Nevertheless, the Wildcats were excellent competitors and held Winona to 19 first-half points. Wolff, Schultz and Esters scored the tries, while Wolff added the extras. The second half began with Wolff’s second score, which originated with a strong pick off the back of the scrum from captain Lanoira Duhart.
The NSCRO side then adjusted its numbers in the breakdown and that allowed for more attacking room on the fringes. Props Makayla Laress and Kari Jordan gained good yardage around the rucks, and wing Hannigan took advantage of some short-side space for a try, 29-0.
Esters dotted down the final two tries. Her second of the day evolved after a sustained pick-and-go series from the forwards. The final try relied on Schultz and Wolff’s ability to over-commit the defense, opening space for the outside center, who sped past the fullback for the five points. Wolff’s conversions ended the game 43-0.
Sunday’s match against Wayne State was a valuable one. If the Minnesota team doesn’t find a replacement for this weekend’s cancelled match against Iowa State, then its next match won’t be until the Round of 32 on Nov. 12. There, Winona will host the Rocky Mountain runner-up (according to the most recently circulated brackets), an opponent that will be named this weekend in Greeley, Colo.