CWU freshman Truong scoring against BYU earlier this fall. /// Photo courtesy CWU Athletics. •
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) is down to the final four varsity teams, and the semifinals begin Friday, Nov. 18 at West Point, N.Y. After a day’s rest, the championship match will occur Sunday, Nov. 20.
First up is American International College (AIC) and Central Washington at 3 p.m. Eastern. The teams played each other on Oct. 2 during the Wildcats’ East Coast tour. Central Washington won that match 57-26 and got a huge performance out of its freshmen. Canterbury Player of the Month Sui A’au and Women’s Junior All-American Michel Navarro scored three tries apiece in Springfield, Mass., while finisher Kathlena Truong (photo) dotted down two.
That young talent augments battle-tested veterans like Nate Serevi, Jenny Johnson, Cassidy Meyers, Yana Manoa, Leah Ingold, and so many more. Central Washington boasts an intimidatingly large roster, and it’s a West Coast showcase.
But AIC isn’t without. The Yellow Jackets scored five tries against Central Washington, and Anna Mbegam proved herself a menace in piercing the try line.
That October match speaks to teams from a month-and-a-half ago, so how do they look today? AIC is coming off a gut-check of a quarterfinal win (33-29) Ivy League champion Dartmouth, also a NIRA member. Shamira Robles, Molly Plante, Anne-Laurence Harvey, Mbengam and Kayla Clark were influential in the retributive victory (Dartmouth defeated AIC 24-22 earlier in the season).
Central Washington is better today, too, and that could be seen in the 19-12 win over Quinnipiac and smashing 61-12 victory over BYU, both at home. Against the Bobcats, Central Washington used momentum to score its three tries (Truong, A’au, Meyers) in the course of 11 minutes. Against BYU, the Wildcats showed an immense capacity to attack quickly, as saw Truong (2), Serevi (3), A’au (2), Meyers (2) and Ingold all score. Davenport transfer Ashlee Byrge was good off the tee (and with the dropkick) with six conversions.
Friday’s winner will advance to the final against the victor of Quinnipiac vs. Army, a semifinal that occurs at 5 p.m. Friday. The two played each other in their season-opener, and the Bobcats rallied from a first-half deficit to win 32-19. As one might imagine, these teams have transformed in the last two-and-a-half months.
The Black Knights packed its schedule with NIRA, academy and international opposition, and emerged as the third-ranked team in the league. Championship host Army advanced to the semifinals after a 46-7 win over Norwich last Saturday. Freshmen Gio Ferguson-Lewis and Bayleigh Gable, at No. 8 and flyhalf, respectively, have grown into their roles as playmakers (Gable’s younger sister, Bethany, was named MVP of the Michigan high school state championship last weekend – read more), and fellow first-year Sally Varner has also been influential on the scoreboard these previous two matches. Outside center Zye Crittington continues to bring a physical, hard-charging edge to the back line, and fullback Rebecca Stipp is an excellent finisher.
Quinnipiac’s got its game down and asserted as much during a friendly against DI Elite champion Penn State. Read more about the Bobcats’ 41-22 win, which broke Penn State’s five-year winning streak against collegiate sides. Center Emily Roskopf scored three tries on the campus of Mount St. Mary’s and then followed with six more in the NIRA quarterfinal win over West Chester (94-15). She pairs nicely with center Ilona Maher, a fantastic scoring threat herself but also the ultimate set-up woman.
What’s interesting, though, is that Quinnipiac has 22 players rostered but there’s no weak point. Every player – from four-year standout Maggie Myles to influential freshman Mikah Maples – contributes and is dangerous. Quinnipiac relies on every single player, and the individual attention sharpens a fast, well drilled team game.
Central Washington and Quinnipiac came into the playoffs ranked #1 and #2, and so their advancement to the final would fulfill the coaches poll. That said, Army has home-field advantage, and AIC is the only team to play a competitive match in the quarterfinals. They have nothing to lose as the #3- and #4-ranked teams, and that mindset can propel outstanding performances. The final will occur at 12 p.m.
For more information on the varsity league, visit www.ncaacollegerugby.org.