The women’s college activity really opened up this past weekend, Sept. 13-14, and will only pick up pace through September. The following covers the NCAA varsity space — i.e., teams competing in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) — but stay tuned for a National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) recaps. Both organizations will hold their 15s championships in November (NIRA) and December (NCR). [lead photo: David Hughes]
RELATED: Sept. 13-14 Scores
It was week three for NCAA varsity programs, and four of five Division I matches came off. The Dartmouth vs. Princeton in New Jersey was canceled.
Harvard (3-0) stays atop the leaderboard after its 47-8 win against Brown (0-3) on Mignone Field. The visiting Bears took the first lead through a Julia Murray penalty and then the Crimson put five-straight tries on the board before the half. Courtney Taylor, Maddie Hubbell, Amber Van Meines, Charlotte Gilmour and Lennox London all dotted down, and Ava Ference handled the extras: 33-3 into the break. Brown again scored first in the second half (Caitlin Moroney try), and then Neasa McLaughlin and Sana’a Lunon added five points apiece to the Harvard scoreline, with Skylar Jordan kicking one conversion. The Crimson head to Army for a Saturday night game this week, while Brown enters a bye week.
Quinnipiac (2-1) traveled to Brookville, N.Y., to take on Long Island (1-2) and returned to Connecticut with a 65-33 win (31-14 HT). Delilah Staberg (3), Layla Cox (2), Reagan Perez (2), Anna Wright (2) and Gabrielle Appiah scored the Bobcats’ tries, and Gillian Mason added 11 points on four conversions and a penalty. Despite the loss, 33 points scored is a highly respectable output, and the Sharks will look to roll that momentum into this Saturday’s game against Navy. Quinnipiac will see Lindenwood this Friday night in Hamden.
Lindenwood (2-1) hosted Navy (1-2) this past weekend and banked a 64-17 win in Missouri. The home side built a 33-0 halftime lead as Madison Jersey (2T, 2C), He’Lena Dou’Ble, Ava Reuter, Brianna Beath, Amy Brice put down tries, and Irie Farley added a conversion. Beath, Gabby Bryant and Lucia Del Campo Andres (2) scored in the second half. Joselin Roque Lopez went 4/4 on conversions.
While Navy was in St. Charles, Army (2-1) and Queens (0-3) reported to Annapolis for their DI match on neutral soil. The Black Knights dominated in a 75-0 rout. Chloe De Leon, Molly Kennedy and Cassidy Ball scored two tries apiece, while Natalia Johnson, Cecilia Ollis, TyraSoleil Ringdahl, Yesenia Morales and Katleyn Woenker also dotted down. Alissa Eisenhart went 10/11 on conversions.
“The team were hungry for a full 80 minutes today and delivered,” head coach Jenn Salomon-Clayton told GoArmyWestPoint.com. “Our forwards dominated up front, led by Stevie Ricklick, Katelyn Woenker, Natalia Johnson, and Cecilia Ollis. Yesenia Morales was tremendous in the backs gaining great forward momentum, and Alissa Eisenhart’s kicking was exceptional.
Army hosts Harvard this Saturday night under the lights, and Queens plays a non-conference match against DIII Guilford in Greensboro, N.C.
In Division II, Davenport (2-0) picked up its second conference win at home, beating West Chester (0-1) 57-7. Leilani Lepe led with 17 points on a try and six conversions, and Marla Aymond was close behind with 15 on three tries. Kara Higgins, Merary Ulloa-Uribe, Jean-Marie Gaines and Cece Stowers contributed a try apiece in the win.
The Golden Rams got their points from try-scorer Christelle Adikpeto and conversion kicker Emma Davies. West Chester hosts DII AIC on Friday at 4 p.m. The Panthers will host Penn State on Saturday and it will mark the second time that Davenport has faced an NCR Premier team this fall. On Sept. 6, the team hosted Wheeling University and won 42-12.
In cross-divisional play, American International College put in a 43-7 Saturday against DI Sacred Heart (2-0). The Yellow Jackets have not played a DII opponent yet, but that will change this Friday night at West Chester University (0-1).
Naomi Dodd and Kiyanah Edwards scored a brace of tries apiece, while Sa’Tya Miller, Jendell Moe and Camryn Henderson also dotted down. Henderson also handled the conversions. The win marked a first for Director of Rugby Jameson Bonti, who has replaced T Fletcher as women’s head coach.
Sacred Heart (2-0) worked its depth in Springfield, Mass., and got its points from try-scorer Josie O’Donnell conversion kicker Niamh McLaughlin.
“Cross divisional matches allow us a chance to provide valuable minutes to our B-side,” head coach Michelle Reed told SacredHeartPioneers.com. “AIC is an aggressive and skilled team and as the DII NIRA Champions last year, we knew this would be a competitive match.”
Sacred Heart will host Dartmouth this Saturday at 11 a.m.
DI Mount St. Mary’s hosted NCR’s Penn State and celebrated a 22-14 win. Neely Denlinger, Anita Manglona, Zy’Quaria Climons and Victoria Holmes scored the tries, and Shaniah Mayers added the conversion. The Mountaineers play another friendly this Saturday against NCR’s Wheeling University in West Virginia.
Division II Emory & Henry picked up its first win of the fall with a 46-27 win against DIII Guilford College and will get another DIII runout this Saturday against Warren Wilson.
Division III Bowdoin got a proper runout against DII Univ. New Haven after a scrimmage and developmental 7s tournament. The Polar Bears traveled to the Chargers and banked a 79-33 victory. Lulu Linkas led all point scorers with 19 on a try and seven conversions, while Evie Hamer and Malia Petelo both scored hat tricks. Ellie Carter (2), Janya Bradley (2), Nisi Tuitupou and Maddy Kosmoski dotted down five points apiece.
All of New Haven’s points were scored by fullback and USA Falcon Sereana Vulaono. Bowdoin heads to NCR DI Northeastern this Sunday, while the Chargers host DII Frostburg on Sept. 21.