Air Force vs. Texas A&M / Photo: Bobby Gable
The USA Rugby Division I and Division II colleges are contesting two rounds of the fall championships this weekend. The 2-0 teams will extend their post-season to a final weekend, Dec. 2-3, at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
Division I is contesting its fall quarterfinals and semifinals this weekend in Lemont, Ill., and Annapolis, Md. Two finalists will emerge and advance to the fall championship final.
In cold, wet conditions, reigning DI fall champion Air Force and Lone Star champion Texas A&M played to a 12-12 tie in the first half. Offsides infringements awarded penalty tries to both teams. Air Force got its second first-half try from prop Sierra DeHart, and then a pair of yellow cards afforded Texas A&M the space to send wing Jennifer Reed into the try zone.
Air Force returned to the pitch renewed and put down three unanswered tries from Olufunmilayo Akinlosotu, Ashlee Salato and DeHart for the 27-12 win.
Air Force scrumhalf Kelsie O’Brien told on-field reporter Thomas Petit that it was all about “keeping our heads in the game and adjusting to the conditions.”
Davenport No. 8 Hunter Moreland / Photo: Bobby Gable
Air Force will face Davenport in Sunday’s semifinal, with the victor heading to the fall championship. The Panthers defeated Minnesota 49-5, running in nine tries against the Gophers.
“Once we saw the conditions, it was all about ball control,” Davenport coach Greg Teliczan told Petit, who indicated that the Panthers had little trouble with ballhanding or stretching the field. The weather has, however, canceled Sunday’s consolation games.
On the east coast, UCONN and Navy played a thriller in wet conditions. The teams ended regulation tied 7-7 before the Huskies scored the game-winner in extra time. Notre Dame was able to pull away from Boston University in the second half, as Big 10 Player of the Year Grace McGurn and Tori Jones had multi-try performances for the Fighting Irish. Emma Shimek added the points off the tee in the 40-17 win. Notre Dame and UCONN will meet in Sunday’s semifinal, a rematch of the 2016 quarterfinals, which the Huskies won 26-19.
DIVISION II
In Division II, the Round of 16 and quarterfinals are being contested at four sites, and four semifinalists will advance to Furman University Dec. 2-3. In the West, two shutouts occurred. 2016 runner-up Winona State leaned on the continuity in the forwards to defeat Sam Houston State 68-0.
On the other side of the bracket Colorado School of Mines only had a 10-0 lead over UW La Crosse at the half.
“If I could change anything, it would have been the [knock-ons]. We had some at some key moments,” UW La Crosse flyhalf Claire Tomashek, a Midwest Thunderbird, told Petit.
Mines got a good day out of No. 8 Evie Oglesby, who accounted for four of the team’s tries. Flyhalf Shannon McCarty added the fifth and a conversion in the 27-0 win. The loose forward credited scrumhalf Syd Souka, who, “always figures out a way to lead me just right,” Oglesby told Petit.
Coast Guard vs. Cortland / Photo: JJ Fagan
Winona State and Mines play Sunday, and the victor will play the winner of Cincinnati vs. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in the fall semifinals. Cincinnati gave the hometown crowd reason to cheer, defeating UW Oshkosh 65-10 in Fairfield, Ohio. IUP bested Great Water champion Grand Valley State 35-12 for the quarterfinal berth.
On the eastern side of the bracket, the fall quarterfinals pit Vassar against Buffalo State, and Coast Guard against Marist Sunday.
Colby kept it close with Vassar, trailing 10-5 at halftime and sending Emma Hofman into the try zone. Colby would hold up seven tries by game’s end, but the Brewers were able to dot down another three. Oshana Reich, Sarah Mawhinney, Abby Alexander, Amanda Saich and Elaina Peterkin scored in the 25-5 win.
It was a try-trading affair between Buffalo State and Bryant, with the point differential never exceeding 10 points. Melissa Mallahan (2) and Erin Davis scored Bryant’s tries, while Buffalo State sent Emily Stefanski (2), Christal Smith, Carlee Cockrell, Char King across in the Banshees’ 25-15 win.
Marist came in as the Tri-State’s third-place team and defeated MARC champion Bloomsburg University 57-10. The New York team is a credit to the conference’s strength and will now face New England Wide champion Coast Guard in the fall quarterfinals. The Bears defeated Cortland 50-13.