Thomas scored three tries during Brown’s win over West Chester. / Photo: Brown Athletics
Last weekend saw four sets of closely ranked teams compete, making for an exciting round of play in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) sphere. Below are both the match breakdowns (including links to athletic departments’ write-ups) and the rankings themselves.
RELATED: NIRA Homepage • Women’s Rugby Scores: Sept. 21-23 • Support TRB: Donate Today!
Dartmouth won its fourth-straight with a 42-point win over Harvard, now 2-1. Eight players scored tries for Dartmouth, with freshman Emily Henrich leading the way on points. The match played out during the Big Green’s 40th anniversary of the women’s team.
Tries: Emily Henrich, Becca Jane Rosko 2, Alex Stendahl, Ale Ada, Sophie Ragg, Milla Anderson, Allison Tong, Sophia Haley
Cons: Henrich 3, Kat Ramage 2
Tries: Sofie Fella, Rachael Harkavy
Pens: Jenny Kronish
A brilliant try- and lead-changing game evolved between Brown and West Chester, who entered the match beside each other in the rankings. Freshman Zyana Thomas of Land Park, Calif., led the way with three tries.
Tries: Zyana Thomas 3, Louise Leitao, Karina Wang, Zoe Belge
Cons: Olivia Duba 4
Tries: Nicole Welker, Demi Showers 2, Grace Larko, Autumn Czaplicki
Cons: Kylie Corless
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NIRA got the game it was hoping for when Norwich and AIC faced off last weekend. The Yellow Jackets actually scored more tries than the Cadets, but Norwich took advantage of all points opportunities, sending senior leader Sheila Decker to the tee for three penalties. The teams went into the final minutes of the match tied 22-all, but back-to-back Decker kicks put the game out of reach.
Tries: Amber Kelly 2, Reagan Aldersea
Cons: Sheila Decker 2
Pens: Decker 3
Tries: Siale Alatini 2, Brooke Garcia, Melissa Dessources
Cons: Kassidy Pothier
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Mount St. Mary’s posted two intimidating shutouts earlier this month, but Saturday’s game against Notre Dame College marked the Mountaineers’ first against a Tier 1 team. The Falcons, which were coming off a 60-0 win over Tier 1 West Chester, beat Mount St. Mary’s 45-7. Freshman Saher Hamdan and senior Marcaya Bailous scored two tries apiece.
Tries: Saher Hamdan 2, Danielle Walko-Suia, Marcaya Bailous 2, Anna Benko, Ilona Zaishliuk
Cons: 5
Tries: Julie Crochet
Cons: Maya Grassi
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New England and Molloy College split the difference distance wise and met in Providence, R.I., for their league match. The Nor’easters took an early lead and the Lions were able to keep it close in the first half, but the Maine team pulled away in the second for its first official win of the NIRA season.
Tries: Caitlin Paredes 2, Zoe Adams 3, Courtney Mills, Sydney Rees, Emma Foss
Cons: Adams 4
Tries: Caroline NIckels, Gabrielle Riepe, Chrissy Heyer 2
Cons: Olivia Sturiano
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Sacred Heart earned its first win of the NIRA season, taking down Castleton with a 71-5 win. Tyffany Brisbane and Isabel Cuddy scored three tries apiece, and Kaylee Hale added 14 points on a try, four conversions and a penalty kick.
Tries: Kaitlyn Lagase, Isabel Cuddy 3, Tyffany Brisbane 3, Kaylee Hale, Arianna Heonis 2, Tessa Buckey 2
Cons: Hale 4
Pens: Hale
Tries: Kailyn Duff
NON-LEAGUE
Army, Navy and Air Force all play each other in a service academy circuit this fall, and the Black Knights kicked off the series with a 50-0 win over Navy. Read more. Wing Sam Sullivan scored four tries against the Midshipment and freshman inside center McKenzie Borchers added two. Prop, Kailen Young and reserve Charisma Henry added a try apiece.
Bowdoin posted a solid 51-5 win over fellow Maine school Colby, which competes in the DII Rugby Northeast conference. Tries came from Taylor Yoder, Sophia Karris, Amber Ramos 2, Jackie Jaques, Liz D’Angelo, Allegra Bersani, Molly Petronzio and Mackenzie Philbrick, and D’Angelo handled the conversions.
RANKINGS NOTES
– Even though LIU Post beat Castleton 34-26 in the teams’ season opener, the Pioneers have cancelled all of their games since Sept. 8 and don’t list a match until Oct. 21 against AIC. Castleton, though winless, is getting on the road and playing games, and thus swaps with LIU Post.
– Predictably, AIC and Norwich swapped spots after their match, and the result supported their positions beside each other in the rankings. Now the big question is where Notre Dame College fits in, and the Falcons will play both teams at the end of the season.
– Mount St. Mary’s dropped a spot after its loss to Notre Dame College, and splits Brown and West Chester, which played to within 11 points of each other. The Mount will play one more Tier 1 team – West Chester – on Oct. 13.