Olivia Ortiz / Photos: Steve Zomberg Photography (see more)
Davenport University was promoted out of Division II after back-to-back national titles, and so far, the Panthers’ first season in DI has been fruitful. The Michigan team is 5-0 against fellow DI teams, outscoring them 467-49.
RELATED: Davenport Joins DI Ranks • Davenport Women’s Rugby Home Page • Fall 2017: National & Seasonal Championship Info
This year’s team is driven by its seniors and grad students, including All-American and captain Danielle Ordway. She indicated that approximately 10 seniors will be graduating at the end of this season, but that they’ll set the standard for Davenport moving forward in DI.
“We moved up to DI to play more competition so our program can be strong all around, instead of being more one-sided on the offensive end,” Ordway explained. “The teams we play do help show the strength of our team because of how many players we have had stay all five years and new recruits wanting to help grow Davenport’s program. We can only grow so much with the given competition we have around us.”
Bethany Gable / Photo: Steve Zomberg Photography
Davenport played its toughest game in its season opener against NIRA’s Notre Dame College, a 31-19 win. The Panthers went on to defeat Big 10’s Michigan 124-5, Allegheny’s Kent State 105-10, DI returner Clemson 137-0, and then Mason Dixon’s Virginia Women’s Rugby (UVA) 70-15 last weekend.
“It showed again the strength of our forwards and our backs’ ability to cut up a defense that doesn’t come up as a solid line,” Ordway reflected on the most recent UVA win. “The game also showed our weakness of our own defense. As you have seen, we haven’t had to play much defense since Notre Dame College. We are used to being able to steal the ball back within 2-3 phases. Ending with a positive, UVA was only able to score on the outsides, so we didn’t do terrible in the middle of the field defensively.”
Allison Miedzielec / Photo: Steve Zomberg Photography
Veronica Overbeek, Allison Miedzielec and Hunter Moreland are the veteran impact players in the pack, which has assumed many of new, younger players this fall. Ordway pointed to players like freshmen loose forwards Mariah Pruitt (McMinn Tribe, Tenn.), Hannah Baker (Grand Haven, Mich.) and Bethany Gable (Grandville, Mich.) as influential. The graduation of Brenna Donahue has meant that players are having to step up in the lineout. Donahue was so good in the air, and returner Kaitlin Throgmorton and Pruitt are growing into that role.
All-American Olivia Ortiz continues to lead from scrumhalf and teams up nicely with fellow ARPTC resident Hannah Tennant. Ordway at outside center is the team’s most dangerous striker.
Alanna Girardin / Photo: Steve Zomberg Photography
“Adding to our veteran back line is fullback Megan Bird and wing Alanna Girardin,” Ordway noted the Oak Creek, Wisc., freshman and Norwich transfer, respectively. “They both have great foot skills and speed.”
Davenport will head east again this weekend to take on DII Mid-Atlantic’s Bloomsburg University, and end with a home match against DI Big 10’s Michigan State on Nov. 4.
Expect to see Davenport in the DI fall championship playoffs. The Panthers must apply for an at-large bid since it has an independent schedule. USA Rugby has not yet released the official brackets. The play-in round occurs Nov. 11, and the fall Round of 8/4 occurs Nov. 18-19. The eastern portion will be played at the U.S. Naval Academy, and the western portion is TBD.