GRR: Wayne State
It was a day of dramatic games in the NCR finals, and the Small-College Challenge bracket was no exception.
Western Oregon took third over College of Charleston in a game that was back and forth. Both teams seemed maybe a little run down early, but the action picked up as they sensed a chance for a strong end to the fall.
Siena and Wayne State will meet in the final of the NCR small-college challenge cup after both won big on Friday.
Lindenwood and Life look the business in the Women's CRC Saturday, with both teams winning comfortably as they rolled through the first day of competition.
Life shut out Allegheny 45-0 and Iowa State 46-0 to make it to the semifinals. Life was very physical in contact and it was often their defense that produced their scoring opportunities.
The Women's CRC in New Orleans may well be a foregone conclusion in terms of who makes the final, but we could have a dark horse or two.
Lindenwood's 15s team has been dominant this season, and while that doesn't necessarily mean the Lions will roll through a 7s tournament, history tells us that Lindenwood, paced by MA Sorensen Award-winner Richelle Stephens, will be fully prepared.
“Back to back” is a descriptor with which Wayne State College is familiar. The NSCRO women’s team won back-to-back 15s titles from 2012-13, and then won the first-ever NSCRO 7s championship last spring. This past weekend in West Point, N.Y., the Wildcats retained its 7s title, beating Mount St. Mary’s 22-17 in the final, and saw Caitlin Hollinger repeat as championship MVP.