6-0 Monmouth join the rankings. /// Photo courtesy Monmouth RFC •
With some exception, the Women’s DI Club Rankings show slowly building records, but that doesn’t mean that teams aren’t playing a ton of games. Just remember that leagues take different approaches to the split season. Some fit as many league games as possible into the fall; others only play in the spring (and are omitted from the rankings until then); while others space out the league matches and intersperse friendlies through April.
But the records In New England needed adjustment since last ranking. Providence and Burlington are actually DII teams but are grouped in New England’s Tier A alongside Beantown, Boston and Albany. Providence and Burlington are playing a DI schedule this fall, but we’ve removed their results from DI league records since they are DII teams. So a team like Beantown, whose record is 3-0, is actually 6-0 when all of the Tier A games are considered and the Gold Cup worked in.
Obviously, non-league games are influential.
Boston has slipped off since last year but moved up the ranking as a result of Providence’s removal and Monmouth’s addition at #12. Monmouth comes out of the tricky Empire, a league that is different than its Atlantic North counterpart in that the top-two finishers advance to the DI post-season, and the 3rd- and 4th-place teams head to DII playoffs. But now that the Renegades are 6-0, they’re looking good for a DI berth, as are the Village Lions, which played Monmouth to a 19-12 loss. The rematch is Nov. 19 to end the fall season. Watch for Kelly Rafferty, Taryn Sievers, Kathryn Hussey, Kelsey Howarth and Miranda Previte, among others, to be influential.
Nothing’s changed in the Mid-Atlantic, although Philadelphia put in a massively improved performance against NOVA, losing 29-12 last weekend. The Virginia side impressed during the Gold Cup, falling just short of Beantown and beating Boston 50-7 on day two (read more). Raleigh didn’t travel but there was no effect on the rankings. The online standings however reflect Gold Cup losses to Beantown and Boston. The Venom travel to Pittsburgh this weekend for the rematch (first game went 35-0 to Raleigh).
Chicago North Shore has played every league opponent (and the Minnesota Valkyries twice) to a win, and Detroit has shaped up as the Midwest’s second-best. Detroit’s done for the fall, while North Shore and Chicago conclude league season against each other this Saturday.
Last year’s Red River championship replayed itself last weekend, and Austin triumphed 48-5 over Houston Athletic (HARC). Inside center Claire Tilton and scrumhalf Autumn Farris scored two tries apiece, while Jacklyn Acosta, Francine Bray and Kirby Delgado also dotted down. Jordan Ynostrosa added five conversions and a penalty.
The DI Frontier league has received a boost as Glendale has now entered a team. Previously designated a developmental side, the Raptors will play their first DI league match against Black Ice Saturday. Black Ice is 1-0 in Frontier and coming off a High Desert tournament win. The Utah Vipers (0-1) played DI Eite BYU to a single-digit loss, and made room for Detroit, which has played five competitive league matches and gave North Shore a good game. Really looking forward to the Vipers vs. Black Ice rematch, as well as Glendale figuring into the mix.
WOMEN DI CLUB RANKING
Rank (Previous Rank) Team (League Record). Results
1 (1) Seattle (2-0). Defeated Burnaby Lake 26-19, Castaway 20-0 (fft)
2 (2) Chicago North Shore (5-0). Defeated Detroit 40-7, MN Valkyries 72-7
3 (3) Raleigh (3-0). Defeated DII Norfolk 42-0
4 (4) Beantown (3-0). Defeated Albany 27-0, NOVA 20-11 (f)
5 (5) NOVA (2-1). Defeated Philly 29-12, Boston 50-7; lost 20-11 to Beantown (f)
6 (6) Austin (3-0). Defeated HARC 48-5
7 (7) Black Ice (1-0). Won High Desert tournament, defeated DII Boulder 57-17
8 (10) Detroit (4-1). Defeated Wisconsin 86-14, lost 40-7 to Chi North Shore
9 (8) Vipers (0-1). Lost 31-29 to BYU (f)
10 (11) Boston (1-1-1). Lost 24-0 to Beantown, 50-7 to NOVA (f), 20-0 to DII Providence
11 (12) HARC (1-1). Defeated Dallas 81-0, lost 48-5 to Austin
12 (unr) Monmouth (6-0). Defeated Morris 24-0