Photo: Phoenixville Instagram
There are five teams apiece in the Mid-Atlantic’s DII North and South competitions. Teams fellow pool mates twice across the split season, and then crossover playoffs in the spring name a rep to nationals. MAC’s division III follows the same format, and the North pool played its league openers last weekend, while the South kicks off this weekend. The Mid-Atlantic – like the Atlantic North – no longer fields a DI competition, as NOVA, Philly and Raleigh now compete in the new DI East.
READ MORE: Fixtures & Results: Sept. 14-16 • New England Launches Into DII League Play • Support TRB & Support Women’s Coverage
DII MAC NORTH
PHOENIXVILLE 27-26 NORTHEAST PHILLY
Northeast Philadelphia is new to DII, having won the Mid-Atlantic’s DIII championship over the Maryland Stingers last spring. Phoenixville is also a former MAC DIII champ, winning the title (over the Irish) in spring 2016. White Horse struggled in its first DII season (fall 2016, 1-6 record) and then improved greatly in fall 2017, going 6-2 in the regular season and advancing to CR playoffs.
Last Saturday, Northeast Philadelphia (0-2) led until the 65th minute, as No. 8 Emma Ferraro, inside center Hannah Bratzler and fullback Kelsi Beahm scored tries and flyhalf Rachel Bandura’s conversions afforded 19 points. Phoenixville (1-0) put down two first-half tries through flyhalf Anna McGlade and fullback Saleiha Mayer-Marks, who then added a penalty for a 19-15 scoreline early in the second.
White Horse took the lead when McGlade scored again and Mayer-Marks converted (22-19), and then minutes later, the Irish pulled ahead 26-22 with Emily McKay’s try and Bandura’s extra points. With the clock winding down, White Horse reserve Nicole Schott found the room for a final try, 27-26 at the whistle.
“Whenever we play the Irish it is always a tough match. I am proud of our ladies fighting until the very end, scoring the go-ahead point with two-and-a-half minutes left on the clock,” White Horse coach John Hamer enthused. “The Irish pushed hard, but our defense was able to poach the ball at our own goal line to seal the win.”
White Horse will face Brandywine (0-2) this weekend while Northeast Philly gets the bye.
HARRISBURG 62-10 BRANDYWINE
The Harlots ran in eight tries before the Riot responded, taking a 48-5 lead into the halftime break. Harrisburg made all of its subs by the 55th minute and scored two more tries to Brandywine’s second of the match.
Loose forwards Georgia Goodman and Michelle Kirk, halfbacks Erin Strelec and Nicole Ciccarelli, centers Nicole Snyder and Rebecca Iengle, and wing Emily McHenry scored tries for Harrisburg, while several players took shots at goal. Outside center Jenna Ponto scored both of Brandywine’s tries.
Next up for Harrisburg is Doylestown, which defeated Brandywine 56-0 in its opener on Sept. 8. This match-up is always a game to watch.
DII MAC SOUTH
SEVERN RIVER 51-0 DC FURIES 2
Severn River improved to 2-0 with a shutout win over the D.C. Furies. Lock Kathryn Todovich and wing Tiffany Paul scored two tries apiece, while second row Lena Ferreira, No. 8 Dierdre Crovo, flyhalf and conversion kicker Charlee Bryan (penalty try), fullback Kaitlyn Marshall and reserve Shelly Freeman dotted down as well.
Both of Severn River’s matches have been shutout wins thus far (60-0 vs. Norfolk Storm), and the team will play Chesapeake in its first game of the season this weekend. Norfolk and D.C. will face each other and look for their first wins of the fall.
DIII MAC NORTH
It was opening weekend in the four-team North, and Philadelphia beat Lehigh Valley 47-12. Philly’s DI side also won on Saturday, bettering Albany 31-5. Flanker Molly Rupert-Sullivan was the only player to score twice, as the team put the back three of Sarah Carson, Caitlin Krulock and Sydney Foster, centers A’Brianna Morgan and Jessica Leggett, lock Suzanne Igoe and reserve Joyce Tai into the try zone. (Check out some stellar photos of this match.)
South Jersey banked seven tries against York & Lancaster in its 37-5 win. Fullback Jamie Lynn Fortuna led with 12 points on two tries and a conversion, while wing Caroline Drumgoole also dotted down two scores. Scrumhalf Ashley Munz, flanker Judy Rodriquez and outside center Jenelle Fuller also scored tries. Prop Megan Greco accounted for the Thorns’ five points.
The five-team DIII MAC South will kick off this weekend.
SEPT 22 MATCHES
DII North
Doylestown @ Harrisburg
Brandywine @ White Horse
DII South
Chesapeake @ Severn River
D.C. Furies 2 @ Norfolk
DIII North
York & Lancaster @ Philly D3
South Jersey @ Lehigh Valley
DIII South
Frederick @ Patuxent River
Maryland Stingers @ Rappahannock
MidAtlantic #Phoenxville #NortheastPhiladelphia