Hawkins scored two tries for Army. / Photo courtesy Army West Point Athletics
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) contested its third week of varsity league play, which was highlighted by the Harvard-Army draw in West Point, N.Y. Recaps for NIRA league games and friendlies, i.e., non-league games, are linked to the athletic departments’ write-ups, where they exist. Keep in mind that teams’ records reflect games played against NIRA teams only.
RELATED: NIRA Roundup Week 2 • NIRA Roundup Week 1 • Scores: Sept. 15-17, 2017
HARVARD 33-33 ARMY
Harvard (1-0-1) came into the season ranked #7 via the coaches poll and took a 14-point lead over #3 Army (1-1-1). The Black Knights responded with three converted tries to lead 21-14 after 47 minutes, and then the Crimson answered with three converted tries to lead 33-21 with 10 minutes in regulation. Sydney Hawkins scored her second try in minute 75, and then No. 8. Gio Ferguson-Lewis dotted down in minute 79 for the 33-all tie.
Harvard will play Mount St. Mary’s this Friday, while Army will play Dartmouth on Sept. 23.
Tries: Hawkins 2, Varner, Stipp, Ferguson-Lewis
Cons: Burnett, Gable 3
Tries: Roberts, Learned, Miller, Tong, Hellander
Cons: Kronish 4
QUINNIPIAC 52-7 NORWICH
Quinnipiac (2-1) held a 20-7 lead in the first half, scoring four tries to Norwich (1-1) No. 8 Sheila Decker’s converted try, and then added 32 unanswered points in the second half. Freshman Layla Scott from Bishop O’Dowd in Northern California led all point-scorers with 15 on three tries.
The Bobcats will play a non-league game against DI Elite champion Penn State on Saturday, while Norwich hosts Brown.
Tries: Scott 3, Wesolowski 2, Maher 2, Poole, Haight, Roskopf
Cons: Poole
Tries: Decker
Cons: Decker
MOLLOY 58-19 CASTLETON
Castleton (0-3) actually scored the game’s first two tries and held a 19-5 lead into the second quarter. But even though the Vermont side retained an edge into halftime, Molloy (2-1) was already in the middle of a nine-try scoring spree, which Castleton could not answer. Seniors Sabrina Rodriquez and Caroline Nickels combined for nine tries.
Molloy is scheduled to play LIU Post, which postponed its match against Sacred Heart last weekend, and Castleton is scheduled to play Mount St. Mary’s at the Pioneers’ home field in Connecticut.
Tries: Rodriguez 5, Nickels 4, Coady
Cons: Sturiano 4
Tries: Ostrow-Remy 2, Arnone
Cons: Ostrow-Remy 2
FRIENDLIES
NDC 55-5 Queens Univ
Eight Notre Dame College (1-0) players scored against Queens University of Charlotte (0-1), the fall 2018 member of NIRA. Women’s Junior All-American Alex Strasser led the Falcons with two tries, while Alyssa Riedel added five conversions. Tighthead prop Bella Alanis scored Queens University’s try.
Queens University will play Lander University, and Notre Dame College will play a non-league game against Life University, which spent last weekend defeating New York Rugby Club’s DI team 48-5.
Tries: Strasser 2, Faris, Walko-Siua, Ferrara, Velez, Macedo, Rudman, Fox
Cons: Riedel 5
Queens 5
Tries: Alanis
The game was still in reach for AIC after the first half, as tries from Aohili Latu and Hilaria Lymas kept the game competitive, 27-10 into the break. But the Nittany Lions leaned on superior fitness to pull away in the second half. Eagle Tess Feury led try-scorers with three. Penn State then followed that non-league win with a 101-0 victory over Michigan in the Big 10 opener.
Bowdoin played its first game of the fall, taking on local USA Rugby DII team University of Maine-Orono. Senior co-captain Kendall Schutzer led the way with three tries and a big defensive output. Vianney Gomezgil Yaspik and Juliette Dankens also scored. The Polar Bears will play its first NIRA league game this weekend against undefeated Sacred Heart, which had its match against LIU Post postponed.
Lili Riley led all point-scorers with 18 on two tries and four conversions, while Aalea Ray (3), Harley Divine (2) and Sophia Monboussin (2) also had multi-try performances for West Chester (0-1). Haley Spangler and Grace Larko also scored, while Alex Knepper added a conversion. The Golden Rams play AIC this weekend and both teams look for their first NIRA wins this season.