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Week two of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) season saw some lopsided results, and the most intriguing match was actually a non-conference game. [lead photo: Lindenwood’s Ava Reuter in fall 2025 / Jackie Finlan]
Life University traveled to Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., for a NIRA non-conference match. The combination of rosters showcased so much USA age-grade talent that featured at the USA U20 tour to South Africa as well as several camps at Chula Vista. And the first half was barn burner that everyone was hoping for. Life took the first lead through Alyssa Hine, who transferred from BYU and stood out in Stellenbosch this summer. Dartmouth responded through Lauren Cheng and took the lead with an Annie Henrich conversion, 7-5.
Life retook the lead after an Alilia Tuitavake try, and then the home side went up 14-10 when Vasiti Turagavou scored and Henrich followed with a conversion and then penalty kick, 17-10. The Running Eagles closed out the first half with a Jainaya Masunu try and Cece Rose conversion: 17-all into the break.
The visitors asserted themselves in the second half, putting Hine, Masunu, Rose, captain Liberty Benitez, Olivia Frisby and Nevaeh Elliott into the try zone. Rose also added another conversion to cap the team’s 44 points. Dartmouth broke up Life’s run with a Henrich try and conversion, but the team belonged to Marietta, Ga., program 49-22.
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The game was particularly important for Life, which does not have any CRAA or USA Club Rugby matches on its fall schedule just yet. The team had a record-breaking season in 2025-26, winning the DI CRAA 15s, USA Club Rugby Division I 15s, and CRAA Premier 7s national championships (read more). As an NAIA program, it is not eligible for NIRA membership.
Of the two DI conference games that occurred on Saturday, the victors won by a combined 179-5. Harvard improved to 2-0 with a 76-0 win against 1-1 Brown. The Crimson put down 13 tries against the Bears with USA U20’s Gemma Ogoke leading with three. Sana’a Lunon (2), Maya Hilger (2), Sophie Hayes, Morgan Gibson, Jojo Mignone, Molly Young, Mackenzie Marks and Ava Ference also dotted down, and Mignone (3) and Ference (5) kicked the extras. Harvard enters a bye week before resuming league play against Dartmouth on Sept. 26. Brown will return to the pitch on Sept. 27 when it travels to Annapolis to face Lindenwood (1-0).
The Lions won their first match in Hendersonville, Tenn., where Queens University of Charlotte traveled for the match. It was close in the first quarter, when the Royals scored their lone try, but then Lindenwood pulled away for a 103-5 win. Mia Saige Topasna (3), U23 All-Star 15s Championship MVP Ava Reuter (2), Sam Levine (2), Branwen Saville (2), Domniki Platis, Sarin Rowland, Renny Faletoi, Gabby Bryant, Gianna Veetutu, Aries Popoali’i and Evelynn Danhof scored tries. Joselin Roque Lopez (3) and Lille Merlow (6) kicked the conversions.
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“Awesome weekend,” Lindenwood coach Trevor Locke enthused. “I was very proud to see the development from last week to this week in our focus points from the staff.” said Head Coach Trevor Locke. “Road trips also always seem to present chances to adapt, and our team took them in stride, which was great to see!”
Lindenwood will travel to Bethany, Okla., on Sept. 19 for a Southern Nazarene rematch, and Queens enters a bye week.
Princeton (2-0) and Long Island (1-1) are not eligible for post-season play along with La Salle and Mount St. Mary’s, but both have full 15s schedules. The Tigers earned their second win of the fall with a 91-0 outing against the Sharks. Malinka Kwenko led all point-scorers with 28 points on four tries and four conversions. Myah Natorp also dotted down four tries, while Lindsey Mulligan (2), Ava Gregory, Annie Huettel, Lehua Harris and Laura Barnds also crossed the whitewash. Maizy Miller added two conversions.
“For us, this week was about being consistent. After last week’s performance, we felt that we’re gaining and building some confidence as a team. Coming into today, we just wanted to reiterate that and see if we can keep playing to our standards,” coach Karameli Fa’ae’e told GoPrincetonTigers.com. “I think today was a great step, getting almost everyone in off the bench and earning the shutout at home. The crowd really supported us today, and it was great to have such a strong showing in front of our family and friends. I’m really proud of our group, and they keep stepping it up every week.”
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Princeton hosts West Chester this Saturday, and Long Island welcomes Army’s sub-varsity side to Brookville. Army’s B side has also been active and hosted DI La Salle on Friday night. It was an even affair in the first half, with the scoreboard remaining dormant until the 38th minute. Army took a 7-0 into the halftime break, and then La Salle put Alyssa Williams (2), Maeve Delaney and Josie Hanks into the try zone. Jocelyn Terry added two conversions and a penalty kick for the 27-7 win. The Explorers head to Mount St. Mary’s this Saturday.
In Division II, Davenport (1-0) traveled from Grand Rapids, Mich., to West Chester, Pa., for the teams’ first conference match of the fall. The Panthers banked a 44-0 win, and saw captain Leilani Lepe lead with two tries. Rachel Wilkie, Kara Higgins and Makayla Koetsier earned callouts for their output, as did Meliah Poua-Florez and Nala Mayorga for their physicality and attacking prowess. Davenport welcomes Frostburg State to Michigan this Saturday, while the Golden Rams head to New Jersey.
DIII Warren Wilson and DII Emory & Henry traveled to DIII Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., for a round robin. Emory & Henry and Guilford beat Warren Wilson by a combined 84-0, and then the Wasps ended the day with two wins, beating Guilford in a competitive 17-7 decision. Guilford will play a non-conference match against UNC Charlotte this weekend, while Emory & Henry and Warren Wilson enter bye weeks.
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The University of New England participated in Terrier 7s, hosting by NCAA varsity program Thomas College, which has shifted to National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) this season. The hosts beat New Haven 43-0, and then UNE 29-10 and 24-15 to win its home tournament.