NIRA Division 1 Semifinals Shaping Up

The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Division 1 regular season ends Nov. 5, but there are likely semifinalists at this point in the calendar. Dartmouth (5-0), Harvard (4-1), Army (4-1) and Quinnipiac (3-3) are on post-season tracks. The top-two teams will host their respective semifinals on Nov. 12, and then national championships day is Saturday, Nov. 19 in Hanover, N.H.

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The game of the weekend carried playoff-preview vibes, and did not disappoint. Dartmouth and Harvard were undefeated heading into their match Saturday, and the Crimson surged at home, building a 19-5 lead into the break. Reese Morgan, Tiahna Padilla and Achele Agada scored in the first 40, with Brogan Mior kicking the extras. Dartmouth got its try from Ari Ramsey, who has finally returned to the pitch after a long injury rehab.

Dartmouth co-captain Lauren Ferridge opened up the second-half scoring, and then Harvard answered with freshman Cam Fields’ breakaway try: 26-10 to the Crimson. The Big Green continued to do good work in the forwards, sending Seven Sassano into the try zone, and then lock Josie Harrison picked off a pass between the halfbacks and raced 30 meters for the try. Both converted: 26-24 to Harvard with 25 minutes to play.

JOSIE HARRISON 👏👏https://t.co/dJfPQAK1pb | @ESPNPlus https://t.co/palqLQTafB pic.twitter.com/3mpvHW68iC

— Dartmouth Rugby (@DartmouthWRugby) October 15, 2022

Chloe Headland kicked a penalty to extend Harvard’s lead – 29-24 – and then in the final 30 seconds of play, freshman Katelyn Walker scored to tie it up. Kristin Bitter lined up the off-center kick, and it was good: 31-29 the final.

“As soon as I made contact and saw that it went through, I immediately turned around to see my teammates running toward me,” Bitter told DartmouthSports.com. “It was a great team win.”

Dartmouth has Princeton and Brown to end the regular season, but should be hosting a semifinal on Nov. 12. Harvard will play Brown (3-2-1) and Army (4-1) the next two Saturdays, as home-field advantage holds in the balance.

Brown and Army saw each other under the Friday night lights on the Hudson River, and the Black Knights won a 17-0 contest. Freshman Alissa Eisenhart accounted for seven points on a dropkick and both conversions. Freshman Cecilia Ollis and senior Julia Riekena dotted down for Army.

Army has a friendly against DI Elite Penn State, then plays Harvard on Oct. 29 – another game to watch – and Sacred Heart (1-3-1) to wrap up regular season.

Rugby. It’s less about the try than how the try was made. Collectiveeffort. @mollyyanity @mollygrisham @sarahhood @QUChronSports pic.twitter.com/n4gHkxQtVb

— Quinnipiac Rugby (@QU_Rugby) October 16, 2022

Quinnipiac is looking good for the fourth semifinal spot, improving to 3-3 after a 44-5 win against Sacred Heart. Kat Storey (3), Riva van der Valk, Haley Crow, Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin, Libby Moser and Lily Cartwright scored tries, and Ní Bhraonáin added two conversions. The team has LIU and Mount St. Mary’s to close out the regular season.

The Bobcats beat Brown and earned a bonus-point in its single-digit loss to Army, so Quinnipiac in the top four makes sense.

A fourth D1 game occurred this weekend, and though it did not have playoff implications, it did see a team earn its first conference win of the season. Mount St. Mary’s beat Princeton (0-6) 77-10. Senior Jalana Jade Garcia led the way with four tries, while freshmen Kaylen Thomas (3) and Sankara Price (2) also had multi-score days. Kameka President, Monet Hubbard, Zyquaria Climons and Olivia Woodward also dotted down. The Mountaineers close with Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac.

The semifinals occur Saturday, Nov. 12 at the higher seed, and the national championships – for Divisions 1, 2 and 3 – will occur Saturday, Nov. 19 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.