Grand Rapids advances to first playoff. / Photo: Missy Keating
The Midwest DII clubs contested their first round of playoffs last weekend, and now the East and West divisional championships await this weekend. The Midwest champion will be named on Nov. 11 in Lemont, Ill.
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WEST
The two competitions within the Midwest’s West Division hold separate playoffs. In West 1, undefeated Grand Rapids hosted second-place Chicago Sirens for the berth to the West Division championship. During the teams’ regular-season meeting, Grand Rapids triumphed 36-10, but the rematch was more even.
“Man, that was a tough match,” Grand Rapids prop Cassie Clark confessed. “It was rainy and cold all morning, so the match became a little unpredictable.”
Three injuries saw the Gazelles make substitutions earlier than expected.
“The Sirens dominated our scrums early with their powerful forward pack,” Clark continued. “One through eight, they are just so tough. Propping against Anabel Diaz makes you have to get tougher, go lower and play smarter.”
The first 20 minutes were scoreless, and then Clark took a quick tap, dummied to the forwards and then sent the ball wide, where wing Sarah Anderson was able to score. Although Grand Rapids had the momentum, the Sirens kept pushing, forcing mistakes. Kristen Nelson finally got the Gazelles outside of their 22, and then wing Emma Rutkowski found a gap for a try, 10-0.
The Sirens got on the board, working an overload and putting wing Rhea Rashad into the try zone. And then Anderson got her second try of the day, while No. 8 Lindsey Orkisz added the conversion, 17-5 into the break and through the remainder of the match for the win.
“The excitement has definitely overtaken the team, since this is our first playoff win since the team’s inception in 2015,” Grand Rapids coach Kim Trgina enthused. “We know West 2 is a powerful conference with some very powerful teams, but we’re ready for the challenge and to fight for a spot on the big stage.”
The West 2 is home to DII national champion, but Milwaukee Scylla finished the regular season in third. West 2 relies on season-end standings to name post-season reps, and Palmer College and Twin Cities were both 6-1 heading into the final weekend. Saturday’s game between the two leaders acted like a playoff match.
Prop Hayden Stuppnig and flanker Rebecca Bukvich scored first-half tries for the Amazons, and then Palmer College inside center Hailey Eckstein and flanker Felicia Devine used the first six minutes of the second half to score tries, 10-all.
Twin Cities flyhalf Rachel Aufdembrink restored her side’s lead with a penalty kick and converted the try that wing Mariah Lundstrum dotted down. Aufdembrink tacked on another three-pointer in the final 10 minutes for the 23-10 win.
That said, Palmer College is taking the West 2 seed to the divisional playoffs and will travel to Grand Rapids this Saturday, Nov. 4, for the berth to the Midwest Championship on Nov. 11.
EAST
The East Division held crossover semifinals between its two pools, with higher seeds hosting. Buffalo (East 1 #2) traveled to Scioto Valley (East 2 #1), and Cincinnati (East 2 #2) traveled to South Buffalo (East 1 #1). Buffalo had actually defeated South Buffalo 41-5 during the regular season, but a forfeit to Akron subtracted a point that made the difference in the standings.
A brutal game against Scioto Valley followed, and the first 15 minute evolved without a score. Outside center Kelsey Reese dotted down to give the home side a 5-0 lead for the following 20 minutes. That’s when Buffalo wing Kala Crawford evened it up with a try, 5-5 into the break.
The third quarter was scoreless, and then Buffalo flanker Megan Cereo broke the silence with five points. The difference-maker was inside center Jenna Hutzler, who hit the only conversion of the day, 12-5.
With approximately 10 minutes remaining, Scioto Valley wing Andrea Sanchez scored her side’s second try, but without the conversion, Buffalo held on for the 12-10 win.
Buffalo will travel again this weekend, heading to Cincinnati, which shut out South Buffalo 41-0 last Saturday. Inside center Megan Davidson and reserve Andrea Foote scored two tries apiece, while flyhalf Courtney Moore, wing Krista Dyer and No. 8 Gina Fanelli also scored a try each. Scrumhalf Danielle Bass kicked three conversions.
The Midwest Championship will be held in Lemont, Ill.