Three NIRA Champions | Goff Rugby Report

11.18.2023College Women

harvard v dartmouth 2023 alex goff photo 1

Harvard, Davenport, and Bowdoin won NIRA Championships Saturday in Cambridge, Mass.

Paced by an MVP performance from No. 8 Rebecca Valarau and a superb team approach, Bowdoin beat Adrian 51-17 in the DIII final. This was Bowdoin's fourth-straight NIRA title, and Vakarau's second MVP nod in three years.

In the DII final, heavily-favored Davenport did what was expected and won 91-5 over Lander. This was a highly-dangerous Davenport team but Lander didn't quit and scored at the death.

Davenport vs Lander in the 2023 NIRA DII final. Alex Goff photo. Photo Alex Goff

In another classic DI final, Harvard got two tries from Lennox London and one from MVP Brogan Mior, plus a conversion and penalty goal from Chloe Headland, to hold off Dartmouth 20-12.

It was a tactically fraught game that was in the balance throughout.

Lennox London scored two tries for Harvard in the NIRA DI final. Alex Goff photo. Photo Alex Goff