Photo courtesy Coastal Carolina University Women’s Rugby
With the third edition of the DII Spring College Ranking, remember that this list is untraditional. All of the teams are at different stages of activity, and so the early iterations of the rankings consider things like number of games, even if they were played in the fall. Weights shift every week, and by month’s end, when the truly spring-based leagues hit that two-month mark, teams will be closer to even footing and adjust in relation to current results.
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That’s why you’re still seeing teams like Tulane (stay tuned for article with coach Jess Mallindine) in the bottom half of the ranking. The Green Wave is good this year, with depth and numbers to support talent, but it’s still low on field time. That said, SIRC teams get 3-4 league games before conference playoffs, so we’ll be paying attention to friendlies as well.
In the SIRC East, Life JV defeated Georgia Tech 142-0, lending perspective on its 55-10 win over Kennesaw State a week prior. The Owls followed with a 19-15 win over UGA, which jumped onto the rankings.
The most interesting results came out of the Carolinas, as Queens raced out to a 15-0 lead (Bridget Mielke, Abby Tobias, Asiah Peterson tries) over Coastal Carolinas. Two tries from Bri Haddad and a conversion from Lauren Durant saw Coastal Carolinas draw to within three points, which is where the game ended, 15-12 to Queens.
That result slid the previously unranked team just in behind College of Charleston (CoC), which thrashed UNC Charlotte 93-5. CoC beat Coastal Carolinas 30-15 during the teams’ fall matrix match.
Although there are still games to be played, the aforementioned appear to be the top-four teams in the Carolinas. The top two teams will host their respective semifinals on March 17, and the championship will be held March 24 at Queens.
UN Reno took a forfeit win over San Jose State, while Fresno State spent Saturday defeating Sacramento State 40-0. Scrumhalf Raquel Macias and flyhalf Jacklyn Blankenship scored two tries apiece, while fullback Regan Garner added five conversions. Reserves Sarah Fallert and Violet Lopez also scored tries.
Claremont ran out to a 33-5 halftime lead against UC Riverside, with all five tries finishing through the backs and fullback Alexandra Parker converting four of them. Claremont flanker Jessie Ribera scored the team’s lone try of the second half, while Riverside got five-pointers from outside center Tachae Hankerson and flanker Emma Dixon, her second, in the 38-15 decision.
When UC Irvine, idle last weekend, played UC Riverside in the first week of the season, it won 43-17. Irvine and Claremont play this weekend.
Eckerd was happy to get on the pitch for a 29-0 win over Florida International Saturday. No. 8 Ally Gallagher scored four of Eckerd’s five tries in the Sirens first win of 2018 and looks ahead Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday. Eckerd recently placed players on the USA Rugby South’s Elite and U23 teams that are competing at the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day tournament and Life University 7s.
Keep in mind that the records only count league games and may reflect future forfeited games.
