Photo courtesy Queens Univ. of Charlotte Athletics
It was an exciting weekend for NCAA varsity games, which produced movement in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 NIRA rankings. Tier 3 remained stable.
Tier 1 shifted with Harvard’s win over Dartmouth, but Army West Point kept the top spot considering its 24-point win over the Crimson earlier in the month.
Tier 2 reorganized. The previously top-two-ranked teams – Mount St. Mary’s and AIC – lost to Queens and Brown, respectively, and thus dropped in the rankings. West Chester beat Sacred Heart and moved to #2, having defeated Brown 25-14 earlier in the month. AIC and Sacred Heart are now beside each other in the rankings, which aligns better with their 22-10 decision the previous round. The LIU Post vs. Molloy game was postponed until Nov. 2.
Tier 3 did not move, as Norwich’s 25-point win over the University of New England aligned with the rankings. The cadets’ home-opener was also Norwich’s Bicentennial and homecoming weekend.
Another note on the records: They do not mirror those displayed on athletic department sites because there’s a lot of inconsistency in how games are regarded. The following mirror the records found in the CMS (see here), as it clearly distinguishes between friendly and league matches. The only difference is with Molloy and Castleton, which only show “friendly” matches. With all that said, all the outcomes of all games, regardless of status, are considered in the rankings.
TIER 1
Harvard 50-34 Dartmouth
This game, a rematch of the 2018 final, did count toward NIRA records, and the Crimson asserted itself. Harvard led 50-12 until the final 12 minutes of the match, when the Big Green went on a four-try run.
Tries: Emily Prentice 2, Achele Agada 2, Gabrielle Fernandopulle, Dominique Cantave, Erica Jarrell, Cassidy Bargell
Cons: Milan Roberts 3 [missing 2C]
Tries: Ariana Ramsey 3, Idia Ihensekhien 2, Ale Ada
Cons: Kristin Bitter, Lillian Johnson
—–
Quinnipiac 74-20 Notre Dame College
Quinnipiac and Notre Dame College met in Pittsburgh to contest their first official league match of the season.
Tries: Allison Koenig 2, Grace Martin 2, Jordan Cowan, Erin Terwilliger, Clara Lemal-Brown 2, Mckenna Haz, Mikah Maples 3
Cons: Haz 7
Notre Dame College 20
—–
TIER 2
Queens 46-12 Mount St. Mary’s
The first half was competitive, and the Royals went into halftime with a slim 19-12 lead. But the second half saw the home team surge while holding the visitors scoreless. Senior Antares Lance led the way with three tries.
Tries: Antares Lance 3, Teaghan Steele, Hailey Thomas, Angelica Rodriguez, Megan Reed
Cons: Alle English 4
Pens: English
Tries: Julie Crochet, Jalana Garcia
Cons: [missing conversion]
—–
Brown 54-19 AIC
The Bears built a 28-point lead before the Yellow Jackets got on the board and was able to respond to AIC’s surges. Brown has been one of the most active teams in the league, and this weekend’s game against Sacred Heart will be the team’s fifth-straight week in action.
Tries: Karina Wang 2, Mahdia Parker 2, Abby O’Keefe 2, Zy Thomas, Jenna Soenksen
Cons: [missing 7 conversions]
AIC 19
Tries: Kassidy Pothier, Jamaya Hawkins 2
Cons: Pothier 2
—–
West Chester 50-17 Sacred Heart
West Chester ran out to a 19-0 lead in the first quarter and maintained at least a two-try cushion throughout the match. Tries by Autumn Czaplick and Lauren Madalian in the final 10 minutes pushed out the point differential.
Tries: Corinne Gallagher 2, Grace Larko 2, Lauren Madalian 2, Kelsey Diabo, Autumn Czaplicki
Cons: Kylie Corless 5
Tries: Kinzie Youngblood 2, Isabel Cuddy
Cons: Kaylee Hale
TIER 3
Norwich 35-15 Univ. New England
The cadets won their home-opener, which coincided with Norwich’s Bicentennial and Homecoming Weekend.
Tries: Emma Parizo 3, Kennedy Mack 2, Angelica Greene, AnnaLeigh Runion
Univ. New England 15
—–
Bowdoin ran A and B sides against New England College and Castleton, and went 6-0 in 10s games. The Polar Bears defeated New England College 68-22 and Castleton 76-25.
Tries: Kayla Ramsay 4
Cons: Mackenzie Wilson
Tries: Julia May 4, Mariah Jollie