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Entering the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Division II Championship Weekend, Coast Guard captain Kate Boggs knew that this year’s team was the one with the title-winning goods. The Bears backed themselves by beginning their stay in Houston with a single-digit semifinal win against top-ranked Vassar College. On Sunday, the New London, Conn., team took on Univ. Wisconsin Eau Claire for the title, and pulled away in the second half for a 51-12 trophy win. Boggs, who led in every way possible, was named Championship MVP.
It was somewhat surprising to see Coast Guard and Vassar in the semifinals against each other, considering the Brewers were the 2024 national champs and SUNY Binghamton was a first-time nationals competitor and inarguably #4 seed. Nonetheless, a DII rivalry played out on Saturday, and Vassar was the first to show off one of its trademarks this decade. In the first minute of play, the Brewers earned a penalty in attacking territory and senior scrumhalf Sophia Bailey immediately tapped through the mark and sprinted through a slowly regrouping defense for the try. It was classic Bailey, and it afforded a 5-0 lead that held for the next 20 minutes.
Coast Guard played with a lot of possession but the Vassar defense responded well. Strong carries from Boggs, prop Meirabella Rouane and inside center Marley King marked the first quarter, as did Vassar penalties. Into the second quarter, the Brewers took a yellow card for high tackles, and a minute later, Coast Guard was on the board. A tough line from outside center Jasmine Mendez sucked in the defense just enough for the offload to find wing Avery Soca with just enough room for the try, 5-all.
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That’s how the half ended score wise, and the Bears resumed with the pressure in the third quarter. A Vassar high tackle happened on the wrong part of the pitch, and the yellow card was deemed a penalty try (12-5). Before the 50-minute mark, another Vassar penalty for not-releasing during a Coast Guard barrage at the line, allowed the Bears to reset and move the ball to outside center Mendez for five points. Senior flyhalf Hazel Mitrik added the conversion for the 19-5 lead. Hazel added five points to her total after a series of missed tackles allowed the Bears to march down field. Before 60 minutes elapsed, Coast Guard led 24-5.
There was a long break for a Vassar injury, and when play resumed, the Brewers got to work. Rosalie Perkinson was so dynamic from the fullback position, inserting at pace and at tough angles. Perkinson scored the first try and really needed more touches on the ball. Nadya LaMarr added the conversion, 24-12. LaMarr and wing Leah Dourmashkin added tries to cap Vassar’s 24 points, but Coast Guard put away one more score from Soca to seal a 29-24 win.
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On the other side of the bracket, Eau Claire took down Binghamton 59-7. The Blugolds nearly posted a shutout against a She-Devils side that had to play so much defense, but after regulation expired, the incredibly fun Elizabeth Crawford picked off a pass for an intercept try. The flyhalf had a great boot – not just for distance, but off the ground and in open play, as well.
Eau Claire meanwhile linked waves and waves of hard, fast phases together for 11 tries through Liv George (4), Calla Dexheimer, Dana Unti, Kahlyn Geiger, Madison Cornell, Margaret Behnke, Breanna Bauer and Autumn Noel. Cornell added two conversions as well. While the team was proud of its semifinal performance and confident heading into Sunday’s final, the staff was also respectful of Coast Guard and its ability to knock out Vassar.
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In Sunday’s final, Coast Guard ran in two-straight tries (Boggs, Hannah Warnke) during the opening 20 minutes before Eau Claire could answer, and that response came through wing Maggie Kane and George. Cornell added a conversion so the Wisconsin side led 12-10 — almost into halftime. Eau Claire knocked on shortly after the restart, setting up a Coast Guard scrum in good territory. Boggs picked from the set piece for more meters forward, and then after a series at the line, the ball moved to Rouane a little farther away from the ruck. The prop gets to speed pretty quickly and, when running on an angle, is tough to take down. The senior’s try put Coast Guard back into the lead (17-12) for good.
Right after the break, Eau Claire was gifted possession when Coast Guard knocked on at the back of its scrum, but a penalty negated that advantage and Boggs went quickly through the mark. Soca finished off the drive with the try, 22-12.
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Play settled a bit and Eau Claire played with good territory, and then Rouane disrupted a ruck and the defense flooded the contact area. A not-releasing penalty followed, Boggs went quickly from the mark, and then a lovely offloading series along the sideline followed. Inside center Marley King took the final pass and dotted down five points, 27-12.
Eau Claire also took an influential injury that halted the game for some time. When play resumed, Coast Guard keep attacking, adding another four tries through Soca, Miztrik, Rouane and Gabriella Kraus-Rivera, who kicked the conversions: 51-12 the final. The team’s first 15s championship comes during the program’s 25th anniversary.
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In other championship news, Colorado School of Mines won its first 15s national championship with a thrilling 38-29 win against Endicott College (read more). Northeastern won the first DI-AA trophy with a 44-10 win against Colorado University Boulder. And Southern Nazarene University reinforced its DI championship season with a 81-21 win against DI-AA Univ. Northern Iowa on Saturday night.