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National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA), the competition for NCAA varsity women’s rugby programs in the U.S., updates its Division I and combined Division II/III Power Rankings every Wednesday. These weighted standings will determine the two sets of semifinals, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15 and the higher seed. The 15s title matches are Nov. 22 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
The big result in Division I occurred last Friday, when Army traveled to Sacred Heart for a game under the lights. The Black Knights held a 14-10 lead early in the second half, and then went on a 26-0 scoring tear. Army flyhalf Alissa Eisenhart led all point scorers with 15 on a try and five conversions. Yesenia Morales, Cassidy Ball, Gabby Woenker, Emily Steen and Cecilia Ollis also scored tries for West Point in the 40-17 decision.
No rest for Sacred Heart, which travels north to DI leader Harvard on Saturday, while Army hosts Davenport in a cross-conference friendly (7 p.m. ET • watch live). It’s the second-straight travel weekend for the Panthers, who traveled to Springfield, Mass., for the highly anticipated showdown with American International College last Saturday. The 2024 DII finalists did not disappoint, and the Yellow Jackets prevailed 28-21. Stay tuned for interviews with AIC Director of Rugby and women’s head coach Jameson Bonti and Davenport captain Kyla Rimpel.
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Poughkeepsie, N.Y., served as host for Bowdoin College and West Chester University — a match that counts toward the new DII/DIII combination competition. Bowdoin, however, is the only DIII program seeking post-season consideration and strengthened its case with a 37-27 win against the Golden Rams. Read more about the match and his season’s significance from Bowdoin head coach Laura Miller.
Quinnipiac and Lindenwood posted shutouts in their respective DI matches. The Bobcats beat La Salle 53-0 and will now head to Navy this weekend for an important game with postseason implications, as the Midshipmen are currently 5th in the Power Rankings. Meanwhile, the Lions met Queens University of Charlotte in Nashville, Tenn., and opened up in a 116-0 rout. Lindenwood is off this weekend and then heads to Hanover, N.H., on Oct. 18 for Dartmouth’s Senior Night under the lights.
Otherwise, several NIRA programs enjoyed byes last weekend and/or played cross-conference friendlies. See more scores. Mount St. Mary’s and Long Island beat their respective DII opponents, Frostburg and New Haven. And Emory & Henry and Guilford played a three-game series of 10s. Each team won one game apiece and then tied the third match.