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Photo courtesy Norwich Athletics
This weekend marked the seventh round of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), the women’s varsity league. The following recap includes league and non-conference matches (records reflect NIRA games only), as well as links to the various athletic departments’ write-ups. The updated list of NIRA point scorers will be published once one box score is verified.
RELATED: Latest NIRA Coaches Poll • NIRA Week 6 Update • Women’s Rugby Scores: Oct. 13-15
The rankings held true as #8 Notre Dame College (1-2) traveled to play #7 AIC (2-4) and #6 Norwich (4-2) over three days. The Falcons lost both games, but gained valuable information.
“It was a good learning experience and a wake-up call for some of them,” Notre Dame College coach Luke Markovich explained. “We have a lot to work on but the good thing is we have a clearer vision going forward.”
On Thursday, AIC senior Kayla Clark scored five tries to lead the Yellow Jackets in a 47-29 win over the Falcons. Fellow senior Shamira Robles added two tries, while Elizabeth Harvey kicked six conversions. Notre Dame College loose forward Karmin Macedo had an impressive night, scoring four of five tries.
Tries: Clark 5, Robles 2
Cons: Harvey 6
Notre Dame College 29
Tries: Macedo 4, Rudman
Cons: Riedel 2
The Falcons did not have the same offensive success against Norwich on Saturday, as the Cadets produced a 25-0 victory. Caitlin Heale (2T) and Sheila Decker (T, C, P) scored 10 points each, while Denisse Zambon also scored a try in the Cadets’ 25-0 win. Norwich enjoys a bye week before heading south to Mount St. Mary’s.
Tries: Heale 2, Decker, Zambon
Cons: Decker
Pens: Decker
WEST CHESTER WINS X 2
West Chester (1-3) traveled south for two games and earned its first NIRA win over Mount St. Mary’s (0-3). Lili Riley led all scorers with 28 points on four tries and four conversions. First-year NIRA member Mount St. Mary’s will face second-year member Molloy on Oct. 21.
Tries: Toe, Mellon, Knepper, Kurczewski, Riley 4, Ray 2, Monboussin
Cons: Riley 4, Mellon, Roberts
The Golden Rams continued its southern road trip with a non-conference match against DI Mason Dixon James Madison. West Chester won 47-10 and Riley had another standout day, accounting for 32 points on four tries and six conversions. (Keep in mind the stats for the James Madison match won’t be included in the league-wide points tally.)
Tries: Spangler, Evans, Riley 4, Toe
Cons: Riley 6
The Bobcats (4-2) dominated the Black Knights (2-3-1) in its fourth NIRA win of the season. Ilona Maher led in the way of tries and assists – three apiece – while Maggie Wesolowski was good for 17 points on a try and six conversions. Freshman Carson Hann of Colorado scored her first career try as a Bobcat, and freshman flyhalf Eleanor Burnett of California scored Army’s lone try.
Quinnipiac 62
Tries: Maher 3, Maples 2, Wesolowski, Poole, Hann, Scott, Haight
Cons: Wesolowski 6
Army 5
Tries: Burnett
SACRED HEART 81-12 MOLLOY
The teams last played each other on September 9, and a similar result evolved. Sacred Heart improves to 3-2 on the season and got a leading performance from Allie Rinaldi, who scored four tries on the day. Kaylee Hale added 17 points on a try and six conversions. Sabrina Rodriguez scored both of Molloy’s tries.
Tries: Rinaldi 4, Cuddy 2, penalty try, Chester 2, Woods, Picard-Busky, Hale, Buckey
Cons: Chester, Hale 6, penalty try conv
Tries: Rodriguez 2
Cons: Deljanin
FORFEITS
Three of the four teams in the top tier of the Ivy League are also NIRA members, so certain matches affect both competitions. Last weekend, there were two forfeits: Brown (0-2) conceded to Dartmouth (4-0), and Princeton did not travel to Harvard (3-1-1). As such, the Ivy League championship will occur between NIRA’s Dartmouth and Harvard, and the site has been relocated from Princeton, N.J., to Hanover, N.H.
NON-CONFERENCE
Liz D’Angelo led all point-scorers with 16 on two tries and three conversions, while Allegra Bersani added 15 on three tries. Seven Polar Bears scored overall. Bowdoin (2-1) will remain active out of conference, traveling to St. Michael’s College in Vermont on Oct. 21.
Tries: D’Angelo 2, Bersani 3, Kent, Yoder, Squibb, Philbrick 2, Schutzer
Cons: Schutzer 3, D’Angelo 3