Winona State Rugby photos (from previous matches)
The girls’ and women’s rugby sphere delivered this fall, as several title bouts hit all of those wondrous notes – undefeated opponents, rallies, lead changes – that one seeks in a season-culminating match. The USA Rugby Women’s DII College Fall Championship was no exception, and Winona State and Vassar College gave viewers a game to remember.
RELATED: Match Report: Winona Rises to DII Fall Title • Fall Semifinals Recap • DI & DII College Fall Championship Brackets
Winona and Vassar played each other in the 2015 fall semifinals, and the two teams were present in Greenville, S.C., last year as well. The programs knew what to expect of each other heading into the 2017 championship.
“Vassar came at us with what we expected and what we saw from film: strong forward pick-and-goes and then swinging it out to their backs with a fullback insert out wide,” Winona coach Josh Krzewinski recapped.
Vassar built a 22-7 first-half lead on tries from Oshana Reich, Sarah Mawhinney, Michelle Urrutia and Jennie To, and a conversion from Makena Emery. Winona got its first-half points from Emily Becker.
“We were not putting any pressure on them. Our tackling was strong off the sides of the rucks, but we were not doing anything to try and disrupt their flow,” the coach continued. “When they were able to get the ball out, we were not fulfilling our defensive roles, allowing for them to overload the gap between the outside center and wing.
“We also struggled with putting together multiple phases of offense,” Krzewinski addressed the scoreboard. “Lack of ball security in contact and trying to stay on our feet in contact too long allowed Vassar to strip the ball from us.”
Krzewinski noted that the Brewers were keying in on Becker, sending two defenders to stifle the playmaker, and the team was still problem-solving in the first half. The break came at the right time, and the team talked adjustments.
“We talked about committing two or three bodies into the ruck on defense. Our post defenders needed to come up faster as well,” Krzewinski recounted. “We knew if we could maintain ball possession and get our backs involved, we could get back into this match.”
But it was Vassar that made the first statement of the second half, sending No. Amanda Saich rumbling into the try zone, 29-7 after Emery’s conversion.
“I think when Vassar put in the early try in the second half, they knew it was now or never,” Krzewinski highlighted a turning point. “We forced a turnover and got our offense going. Keeping possession and attacking off the sides of the ruck had the Vassar defense backing up, allowing us time to get clean ball out to the backs. … We also started to pick-and-go with our forwards, drawing in defenders to try and stop us, as Vassar was doing to us.”
The team got a boost of energy when scrumhalf Ellyn Grossen scored in minute 50 and Becker converted, 29-14. The ball started to move away from the contact area and down the line, and freshman wing Tiffany Raasch sprinted away for a converted try (29-21). Becker then ran in back-to-back tries, and by day’s end had converted all of Winona’s five scores, 35-29.
“Emily is a special player,” the coach praised the freshman, a Knightmares (Wisc.) product and former Midwest U19 Thunderbird captain. “She has been instrumental for us all season long, but she did step up as well. Her tackling/defense was excellent not to mention her kicking was on point all day. Emily has a unique ability to get herself in the right places and sees the field exceptionally well. She makes those players around her better.”
Becker is one of several freshmen who brought solid high school experience with them to Winona State and made impactful contributions to the team this fall. Conversely, Vassar boasted experience, including 10+ starters from last year’s third-place squad, and with 10 minutes remaining, retook the lead with another Reich try, 36-35.
Almost immediately afterward, back-to-back penalties allowed Becker to line up a shot at goal, and the inside center added three more points, 38-36. There were still eight-plus minutes to play, but the Black Katts held on for the DII fall championship title.
“Winning any championship is special, but coming back from being down 29-7 at one point is incredible,” Krzewinski enthused. “Losing the final the last few years was in everyone’s mind, and I’m sure at halftime they were thinking: Not again. They were able to put forth a courageous effort and never gave up. A comeback like that to pull off the win will be a memory no one will forget. It was truly a special day for Winona State rugby.”
Also, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy got its first DII fall final four win after defeating Cincinnati 37-7 for third place. The Bears finished fourth in fall 2016, the team’s debut at the semifinal stage.