Photo courtesy UNE Athletics
The Central Washington vs. Quinnipiac match highlighted the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) action last weekend, while New England’s win over Bowdoin also garnered attention. Dartmouth also remained unscathed in both NIRA and the Ivy League with its win over Harvard.
The league points-scored tally has also been updated; remember that only NIRA games are included in the list. Athletic departments’ write-ups are linked in the box scores.
RELATED: Updated: NIRA Point-Scorers • Women’s Rugby Scores: Oct. 6-8 • NIRA Coaches Poll
CENTRAL WASHINGTON 31-22 QUINNIPIAC
The Wildcats and Bobcats have developed a nice relationship and continue to trade tense games on both coasts. Quinnipiac had won the previous contest – the 2016 NIRA championship – but Central Washington took the first meeting of 2017. Central Washington established a 10-point lead before Quinnipiac got on the board, but the Bobcats for the most part stayed within one score of the hosts. The game essentially ended on a recalled Quinnipiac try, building even more anticipation for the teams’ rematch in Connecticut on Oct. 21.
The match marked Central Washington’s first NIRA game of the season, and thus the Wildcats are now represented on the league-wide scoring tally (see more).
Tries: S. A’au 2, Kafovalu, Pinson, Navarro
Cons: Ingold, Leonard 2
Tries: Poole, penalty try, Roskopf, Haight
Cons: Penalty try conversion
NEW ENGLAND 61-15 BOWDOIN
The Nor’easters continue to build momentum after a 31-point win over Sacred Heart and took down Bowdoin with an equally impressive performance. New England built a 46-point lead before the Polar Bears got on the board. Heather Baron led the offensive effort with three tries.
Tries: Baron 3, Murnik 2, Drumheller 2, Towne, Mills, Call, Foss
Cons: Adams 3
Tries: Kent, Bersani, Schutzer
DARTMOUTH 39-10 HARVARD
Dartmouth kept both its NIRA and Ivy League records in perfect condition, defeating Harvard seven tries to two. The Big Green distributed its tries across six players, with senior Frankie Sands doubling up in the try zone. Catholic Memorial alumna Erin Wright scored her first try for Harvard, while Milan Roberts added her team-leading eighth of the regular season.
Tries: Sands 2, Johnson, Klein, DeGrandpre, Ihensehkien, Durbin
Cons: Ramage 2
Tries: Wright, Roberts
NORWICH 83-24 WEST CHESTER
Sheila Decker led the Cadets with 33 points on two tries, 10 conversions and a penalty. Sophomore Caitlin Heale added four tries to her team-leading 10 scores, while Denisse Zambon followed with three. Aalea Ray had a good day for West Chester, which is still looking for its first NIRA win of the season, and accounted for 12 points on two tries and a conversion.
Tries: Heale 4, Decker 2, Zambon 3, Mweze, Woods, Tonumapai’a
Cons: Decker 10
Pens: Decker
Tries: Ray 2, Riley, Knepper
Cons: Ray, Riley
MOLLOY 97-15 CASTLETON
Caroline Nickels trails Norwich’s Sheila Decker in most points scored this season, contributing 65 points to Molloy’s tally this fall. Nickels scored five tries against Castleton, and Siobhan Coady – fourth in points scored in NIRA – dotted down four tries and kicked four conversions.
Tries: Nickels 5, Coady 4, Rodriquez 3, Sturiano, Howell 2
Cons: Sturiano 7, Coady 4
Tries: Graves, May, LaPlant
NON-CONFERENCE
Brown is now 1-1 in the Ivy League (0-2 in NIRA) after running away from a light Princeton. Louise Leitao and Marion Sellier scored three tries apiece, while Hannah Yi and Elise Hinkle crossed for two tries each. Olivia Duba handled the kicking duties. The Bears will take on Dartmouth this Saturday.
DI Elite Lindenwood went on a two-game trip to the east coast, and defeated Army and AIC by a combined 166-31. The Lions defeated Army 90-5 and spread its 14 tries across eight players. Teresa Bueso-Gomez and Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru led with three tries apiece, while All-American McKenzie Hawkins accounted for 30 points on 10 conversions and two tries. Rebecca Stipp accounted for Army’s try.
The St. Charles, Mo., team then followed with a match against AIC and placed 10 rookies on the starting lineup. Lindenwood took a 32-12 lead into the half, as Meg Gold got the try-scoring started, and then Hawkins added three tries, two penalties and the conversions. AIC was in striking distance into the second half, 32-19, but then Lindenwood piled on 44 points in the 76-26 win. Kayla Clark led AIC with two tries, while Bridget Kahele and Courtney Welsh also scored. Elizabeth Harvey added three conversions.