With two 15s matches being postponed, it was a relatively light weekend for the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA). Nonetheless, there were important benchmarks made – like Davenport University and Long Island University playing their first games of the season, and Adrian College contesting its first-ever 15s match.
In Division 1, the Brown vs. Army was postponed for health safety reasons. Meanwhile, Dartmouth (2-0) and Harvard kept their undefeated records intact. The Big Green beat Quinnipiac (1-3) 41-10, as Sophie Ragg (2), Kristin Bitter, Lauren Ferridge, Nyah Cordero, Nicole Ihensekhien and Sophia Haley scored tries. Abbey Savin kicked three conversions. Kat Storey and Addison Walker dotted down for the Bobcats.
The 3-0 Crimson shut out Princeton (0-4) 102-0.
Three Games. Three Wins. 🙌👏🤌
Not only a win but a complete shutout against Princeton Tigers for our 40th Anniversary Game!GoCrimson OneCrimson pic.twitter.com/o0tz3ti4sS
— HarvardWRugby (@RadcliffeRugby) September 24, 2022
This weekend, 3-0 Army travels to Dartmouth, and Harvard welcomes Sacred Heart (1-1-1) for a Friday night game.
It was an interesting weekend in Emmitsburg, Md., where Mount St. Mary’s hosted fellow DI Long Island University for a set of 10s games and then also played Virginia Women’s Rugby (VWR, aka, UVA) in a 15s friendly. The 10s matches marked the Sharks’ first runout of the season, and the team celebrated with two wins: 44-0 and 24-7. Alexis Dallas led all point-scorers with 28 on four tries and four conversions, while Sayler Russell (3) and Gina Pollice (2) scored multiple tries. Sophia Gaddis, RJ Scott and Micaiah Thorton scored one try apiece.
Mount St. Mary’s then played UVA in a full 15s match, winning 24-14, as Sankara Prince and Kameka President scored two tries apiece. Brown is both the Mountaineers’ and Sharks’ next opponents, hosting both teams on Oct. 1 and then Oct. 8, respectively.
There were no official matches in Division 2, as the AIC vs. New Haven game was postponed to Nov. 7. Davenport University, however, played its first game of the season, playing nearby D3 Adrian College in a 15s match – the Bulldogs’ first ever. The Panthers beat Adrian 72-5, scoring through Abbi Kowalczk (3T), Ashley Cowdrey (2T), Olivia Farkas (T), Valencia Goldsmith (T), Jasmine Hernandez (T), Mariah Pruitt (T), Abby Jaramillo (T), Aubrey Crist (T, 2C) and Ashley Dewitt (4C). Davenport is scheduled for its first D2 league game against AIC in Rochester, N.Y., this weekend. Adrian kicks off a home-and-away series with Aquinas College the next two weekends.
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Queens University of Charlotte and Newberry College, both D2 programs, played three 7s games. The Royals JV team went 2-1, winning 17-7 and 21-7, while the Wolves banked a 22-12 win. Brenna Milligan (2T), Jessica Sambor (2T, C), Tatiana Price (T), Bridget Cassell (2T), Annalise Richardson (T) and Chase Mauerhan (4C) scored for Queens. Newberry got its points through Anna Howell (2T), Dantzler Long (T, 3C), Dasha Timms (T), Taqwai Seburn (T) and Savannah Armistead (T). Newberry hosts Lander for a trio of 7s games this weekend, while Queens heads to West Chester for D2 league match.
Division 3 held a proper 15s match between Bowdoin College and Castleton University, and the Polar Bears won 73-0. Defense was big, and Kyra Bishop and Ella Slaby led with 10 tackles apiece. Fullback Lauryn Eisenhart also impressed off the tee, converting nine of the 11 tries scored on the day. Slaby, Bishop, Saniya Ridley (2), Justine Endo-Ferguson (2), Rebecca Vakarau (2), Jorja Markella, Ella Garnett and Abigail Ramirez all scored tries. Bowdoin welcomes Rugby Northeast’s DI Boston Univ. to town this weekend. The Spartans head to New England College this Saturday for a round robin that also involves Manhattanville College and Colby-Sawyer.
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Finally, D2 West Chester contested a friendly against future NIRA D1 member Navy, which had dropped a 12-5 contest to AIC the weekend prior. The Midshipmen went up 17-0 through Sage McCallum, Marissa Meyer and Ana Olszewski tries and a Nicole Deprey conversion. The Golden Rams then responded with Heather Spangler and Taylor Baldwin tries, closing to within a converted try, 17-10. With little time remaining, Deprey added a penalty for the 20-10 edge that held through regulation. Navy travels to D2 New Haven on Sunday, while West Chester hosts Queens in a league match.