Photo: Diane Ramage
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), the NCAA varsity league, contested its quarterfinals and all of the higher seeds triumphed in their respective matchups. The semifinalists will convene in Hanover, N.H., on Friday, Nov. 16, and the championship will be played Nov. 18.
RELATED: View College Playoff Brackets
Final four host and top seed Dartmouth defeated #8 Brown 75-17. Read match report. Senior flyhalf Camille Johnson led all point-scorers with 25 (2T, P, 6C), while Margot Généreux, Sophie Ragg, Milla Anderson, Ale Ada, Marin Pennell, Karina Martinez, Maya Perkins and Olivia Marquis all scored for the Big Green. Freshman Zy Thomas, sophomore Marion Sellier and senior Louise Leitao scored for Brown.
“Today was a great team effort from all 23 players on the roster,” head coach Katie Dowty told Dartmouth Athletics. “The biggest key to the postseason for every team is depth, and we’re very proud of how our veteran players have helped our newer players develop over the past few weeks. Today, we were able to spread out some invaluable match experience that will help us next weekend in the Final Four.”
Dartmouth freshman center Emily Henrich and assistant coach Stacey Bridges both represented the USA Eagles during the Women’s National Team’s tests against New Zealand and England this month.
In the semifinals, Dartmouth will play Army, which beat Norwich 61-3 on Saturday night. Read the match report. Sam Sullivan (2), Gio Ferguson-Lewis (2), Kaitlyn Schwarting (2), Meeah Mazikowski, Kailen Young, Charisma Henry, Lexi Leach and Naomi Colin scored tries for the Black Knights.
“The program is on the right track,” head coach Bill LeClerc told Army West Point Athletics. “A lot of it is due to the people we’re getting here and the group of girls working hard.”
The last time Dartmouth and Army faced off, the Big Green won 26-20.
On the other side of the bracket, Harvard bested American International College 54-7. Read the match report. Cassidy Bargell (2), Caitlin Weigel (2), Rachael Harkavy (2), Sofie Fella, Genevieve Quirion, Delia Hellander and Susie Clements scored for Harvard.
The Crimson will face three-time reigning champion Quinnipiac, which beat Notre Dame College with a 46-5 quarterfinal win. Emily Roskopf, Allison Koenig, Margot Vella and Mikah Maples dotted down two tries apiece while Mckenna Haz kicked three conversions. Read the match report.
Harvard is 2-0 against Quinnipiac this fall. The Crimson won the teams’ season-opener 32-19 and the Oct. 6 rematch 24-21.
NIRA SEMIFINALS
Friday, Nov 16
12pm Dartmouth v Army
2pm Harvard v Quinnipiac