There was plenty of National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) last weekend, but most of it was non-conference play. These games are important though, as they allow teams to fill their schedules with more local and/or like-strength matches outside of regular-season games. That’s valuable, especially early in the season. The following is linked to athletic department write-ups, and Week 3 fixtures anchor the post.
RELATED: Women’s Rugby Scores: Sept. 6-8
There were only two in-conference games in DI, and for the second week in a row, Quinnipiac tied its opponent. This time around, though, it was the defending DI champion, Harvard. The Crimson scored more tries (4) but the Bobcats got important points off the tee and led at multiple points in the game: 20-20 the final. Bobcat first-year Layla Cox from the West Carroll, Md., program were among the try scorers. QU has a bye week and then faces Navy on Sept. 21. Harvard travels to Sacred Heart for a Friday Night Lights game this week.
BACK. ON. TOP!
Storey gives us the lead with 14:30 remaining! pic.twitter.com/DMC3nuDYBr
— Quinnipiac Rugby (@QU_Rugby) September 7, 2024
Army West Point picked up its first win of the DI season after scoring 78 unanswered points against Mount St. Mary’s Univ. First-year Chloe De Leon from Indiana (link) scored three tries. The Black Knights travel to DII champion Davenport University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) this Saturday, while the Mountaineers ready for Navy to come to town.
Everything else was non-conference, and it allowed programs that are logistically convenient to face each other in valuable early-season competition. DI Navy traveled to DII Frostburg State and banked a 59-5 win. Meagan Alvarez led with 20 points (2T, 5C), while Ashley Spencer scored three tries. First-year Scout Spadoni accounted for Frostburg’s try. The Midshipmen travel to Emmitsburg, Md., on Saturday, while the Bobcats are unexpectedly idle due to a Kent State cancelation.
Last Saturday, Long Island University head coach Dee Nash was in Madison, Wis., competing in the Legacy Cup semifinals. On Sunday, Nash was back in Brookville, N.Y., to oversee the DI team’s 41-20 win against DII West Chester University. Sophomore Kori Fields led with four tries on the day. The Sharks rest up this week before traveling to Northeastern Univ. on Sept. 21. The Golden Rams contest their first conference match on Friday night in Springfield, Mass., home to AIC.
View this post on Instagram
DI Queens University of Charlotte (1-0) made the two-hour drive to DII Warren Wilson in Swannanoa. The Royals put up 66 unanswered points in the non-conference match. This Saturday, Queens and DI Brown (0-0-1) will meet at UVA in Charlottesville for a DI league game. Warren Wilson, meanwhile, will be participating in the Guilford 7s, which as partnered with the Legacy Cup Championship and whose final will be a curtain-raiser for the main event. Learn more.
DII Davenport University scrimmaged nearby Adrian College, which realigned from NIRA to National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) to access more local competition. First-years, new players and new positions marked the scrimmage, and Alopa Nau out of the Majestics (Utah) scored three tries on debut. Tatum Gillihan and Cece Stowers both earned praise. The team’s most notable player, Ashley Cowdrey, was in Chula Vista for the USA 7s high performance camp. Davenport hosts DI Army on Saturday.
View this post on Instagram
DII Emory & Henry College traveled to NCR’s Wheeling University (W.V.) for a 15s exhibition match. Wheeling scored 13 tries in the 89-7 win and saw first-years Tamzin Boyce, Nadia Richards, Linda Dang and Marissa Hudson all dot down. Emory & Henry will now switch to 7s and feature in the Guilford 7s tournament in Greensboro, N.C.
Dartmouth’s sub-varsity side traveled to DIII Bowdoin College for an exhibition game and won 60-0. It was the first match played on the Polar Bears’ new Pickard Field facility. Bowdoin travels to DII Univ. New Haven on Saturday for another non-conference match. Dartmouth (1-0) meanwhile hosts Princeton (0-1) on Saturday.
NIRA WEEK 3: Sept 13-15
Only conference matches reflected in record
Harvard (1-0-1) @ Sacred Heart (1-0) (Fri livestream)
Navy (0-1) @ Mount St. Mary’s (0-2)
Queens (1-0) v Brown (0-0-1) @ UVA
Princeton (0-1) @ Dartmouth (1-0) livestream
Division II
West Chester @ AIC livestream
Non-Conference
DI Army (1-1) @ DII Davenport
DIII Bowdoin @ DII New Haven
Guilford 7s @ Legacy Cup Final
Multiple NIRA + NCR teams