Fallbrook grad Lilly Durbin scored a crucial try for Dartmouth. / Photo: Jackie Finlan
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) contested its second week of league games and also saw members (and one future member) get in some friendly field time.
RELATED: NIRA Roundup Week 1 • Boldvich Builds NIRA Backbone • Coaches Pre-Season Poll
DARTMOUTH 22-17 QUINNIPIAC
The Big Green (1-0) raced out to a 15-point first-half lead before the two-time defending NIRA champion Quinnipiac (1-1) was able to get on the board. One more try in the second half was enough to hold off Quinnipiac’s three scores. Dartmouth came into the season ranked No. 4 in the coaches’ pre-season poll.
Tries: Sands 2, Durbin, Ihensehkien
Cons: Ramage
Tries: Roskopf, Poole, Schussler
Cons: Poole
ARMY 76-20 AIC
The Black Knights (1-1) got their first win of the season against the Yellow Jackets (0-1) in the Massachusetts’ team league opener. Wing Rebecca Stipp and NIRA All-American Gio Ferguson-Lewis scored three tries apiece.
Tries: Stipp 3, Ferguson-Lewis 3, Leach, Hawkins 2, Sullivan, Crittington, Gable
Cons: Gable 8
Tries: Harvey, Lymas 2, Alantini
SACRED HEART 97-24 MOLLOY
The Pioneers (2-0) had another blowout weekend, this time taking down the Lions (1-1) with an oppressive second-half performance. The first half was relatively close, as Sacred Heart held a 29-17 lead, but then the home side outscored Molloy 10 tries to one in the second half. Freshman Isabel Cuddy (Cheshire) led try-scorers with four, while sophomore Kaylee Hale kicked 12 conversions, a penalty and scored a try for 32 points.
Tries: Hale, Bauer 2, Rinaldi 3, Lagase, Cuddy 4, Brisbane 2, de Poortere
Cons: Hale 12
Pens: Hale
Tries: Rodriquez, Nickels 2, Haedrich
Cons: Sturiano 2
HARVARD 61-0 WEST CHESTER
The Crimson (1-0) shut out the Golden Rams (0-1) in the teams’ season openers. Harvard’s 11 tries were scored by 10 different players. Dominique Cantave scored two tries, while NIRA and Women’s Junior All-American Caitlin Weigel contributed nine points on a try and two conversions.
Tries: Cantave 2, Okine, Miller, Roberts, Hellander, Learned, Weigel, Quirion, Lipson, Kim
Cons: Hellander, Weigel 2
LIU POST 15-12 CASTLETON
LIU Post’s first home game was actually a 7s match, and it will go down as a win. The New York team played its first-ever game the weekend prior against Molloy (32-0 loss). Vermont-based Castleton is now 0-2.
Tries: Williams, Hill 2
Tries: Ostrow-Remy 2
Cons: May
FRIENDLIES
DAVENPORT 31-19 NOTRE DAME COLLEGE
The Falcons took a 14-point lead before the Panthers went on a 31-point rally. Danielle Ordway and Alanna Girardin scored two tries apiece, and Olivia Ortiz scored a fifth off a beautiful Hunter Moreland offload. Hannah Tennant hit three conversions. It was Davenport’s first match as a DI program after winning two consecutive DII national championships (read more).
“It’s been a long ride with the program, and it’s pretty incredible to be apart of the original team and find myself five years later at the D1 level,” Davenport founding member and graduate student Ordway noted. “I’ve grown over the years as a player, and to see not only myself grow but the team as well is extraordinary. It is an honor to partake in this historic victory for Davenport’s program.”
Tries: Ordway 2, Girardin 2, Ortiz
Cons: Tennant 3
Notre Dame College 19
Tries: Carroll, Fox, Velez
Cons: Reidel 2
QUEENS UNIV 34-15 USC
The Charlotte, N.C., team upped its competition level last weekend and took on USA Rugby DII power University of South Carolina. Freshman Bridget Mielke (Hopkins, Minn.) led the way on the scoreboard, accounting for 19 points on three tries and two conversions. A huge test now awaits in Notre Dame College in Euclid, Ohio, Saturday.
Tries: Mielke 3, Tobias, Wilson, Peterson
Cons: Mielke 2
BROWN 76-0 PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
The shutout marked the Bears’ final pre-season game, and the squad will play its first league game against Norwich on Sept. 23. Freshman Marion Sellier (Pleasanton Cavaliers) had another knockout showing, scoring 39 points on five tries and seven conversions.
Tries: Sellier 5, Clifton, Leitao 3, Wang 2, Hinkle
Cons: Sellier 7, Clifton
KUTZTOWN 48-19 MOUNT ST MARY’S
The NIRA newcomer took a 14-12 lead into halftime, but then USA Rugby DII Kutztown University, a member of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference, outscored Mount St. Mary’s 36-5. Katelyn Comeau led all Mountaineer scorers with nine points on a try and two conversions, while Rio Greenshields and Sloane Robinson all scored tries. Read more.
NEW ENGLAND 46-12 ARMY B
The Nor’easters took on Army’s B side after the Black Knights’ first side defeated AIC. Kassidy Towne led all point-scorers with 20 on four tries, while Jennifer Laferriere (2), Kaitlin Drumheller and Caitlin Paredes also dotted down tries. Zoe Adams kicked six conversions.
