Going into the middle of October it's definitely time to think about playoff scenarios in NIRA's DI and the combined DII/DIII postseason.
For DI, Harvard remains on top thanks to a very convincing victory over Sacred Heart. It was Senior Day at Harvard but the young players, including first-years Maddie Hubbell, Gemma Ogoke, and Sana'a Lunon all impressed.
No surprise, then, that Harvard remains on top and it's hard to imagine that Lindenwood or Dartmouth will catch them. And, interestingly enough, Lindenwood and Dartmouth face off this weekend in a semifinal preview.
After Dartmouth lost a close one to Harvard, Head Coach Katie Dowty said some decision-making and ball security troubled them. Loss of possession at key moments were possible the different.
Overall, her teams was a little "rugby green" said Dowty. Experience will help them. Since losing to Harvard 26-17, Lindenwood has hardly been pushed, and they might be a little green, too. But they do have some very experienced players and might be calling on Freda Tafuna to suit up for the first time this fall.
Meanwhile the combining of DII and DIII has been a boon to everyone playing in that 15s postseason. Most of all, we're promised a barnburner of a final, one that might be previewed on October 24 when Bowdoin welcomes AIC.
The new format has allowed Bowdoin to challenge themselves in unique ways, and while they have beaten New Haven, Northeastern (in one of the allowed non-NCAA matches), Frostburg State, and West Chester, every game has been competitive, and the Polar Bears' defense has had to work.
