Rugby Remains Strong at Lindenwood
We at GRR pondered how to write a headline for this article.
Lindenwood University just cut 10 spots. We heard the news over the weekend and many people who heard it immediately assumed that rugby was one of those sports or assumed rugby was in danger. But rugby, for both men and women, is still going strong at Lindenwood.
Why?
Well, first of all, Lindenwood cut men's lacrosse, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis, men's track and field (indoors and outdoors), men's wrestling, women's field hockey, women's gymnastics, women's swimming and diving, and cycling for both men and women.
Smart Tactics and Defense Lead Northeastern to a Title
How did they do it?
How did Northeastern hold a team that had scored 53 points against Air Force and 45 against UConn to just one try? Northeastern secured the CRAA Women D1 championship by stifling perhaps the division’s most electric attack.
Colorado Mesa had, after falling behind 17-0, stormed through UConn the day before, outscoring those Huskies 45-5 to win the semifinal 45-25. But the operative phrase there is … the day before.
The semifinal had certainly taken something out of CMU, while Saturday’s Huskies, aka the Northeastern Mad Dogs, had something extra held in reserve.
Rasmus Out as Head Coach at Long Island University
Long Island University Women's Head Coach Joe Rasmus is no longer Head Coach of the program.
While Rasmus replied "no comment" to confirming he was out at the college, that wasn't exactly a denial when GRR attempted to confirm reports that he was out at LIU. This week LIU posted the Head Coach job as vacant and is seeking a replacement.
This was a rough ending for Rasmus considering he is the only LIU Head Coach to actually win any 15-a-side games. His Sharks beat Mount St. Mary's 18-0 on September 2 in NIRA varsity league action.
First-Ever NIRA DI Win May Be Just the Start for LIU
While that was the only victory for LIU this fall, they did also come very close against Navy, losing 19-18.
Michigan, Eau Claire, St. Bonaventure Win NCR Women Championships
Michigan and Wisconsin Eau Claire both secured repeats championships in NCR women's playoffs, while St. Bonaventure won their first-ever small-college championship.
(Reporting by GRR and also NCR reports)
D1 Final
Saturday night was a rematch between Michigan and Notre Dame College, who met in last year's final. Determined to get payback NDC knew they needed to contain Michigan's speedy attack out wide. But the Wolverines aren't just quick, they move the ball well and they are strong enough to break tackles.
NDC was powerful in tight with sisters Alivia and Lucy Leatherman controlling the flow of play there and scrumhalf Rosa Treece urging them on. But if you are a constant scoring threat out wide, you don't need a majority of possession.
And that's how it came off, with Michigan winning 33-17.
College Rugby A Feature in TRN's Live Coverage This Weekend
It is a huge weekend in college rugby action live on The Rugby Network over the next several days.
We have Bowl Games, international tour matches, and championships.
Add to that the Gallagher Premiership and you have a full slate.
CRAA Fall Classic
The CRAA Fall Classic includes Friday's Women's D1 semifinals, the Women's D1 final on Saturday, plus three Bowl Games. Your GRR Editor Alex Goff will be part of the broadcast team for these games.
Friday, Dec. 1
Northeastern vs Air Force Women CRAA D1 College Semifinal KO 2PM ET>>
UConn vs Colorado Mesa CRAA D1 College Semifinal KO 4PM ET>>
NCR Women's Finals: A Look at the Matchups
All of NCR's women's college divisions are coming to their culmination this weekend in Houston—here's who is playing and why.
Small College
We go into some more detail about this division here: Wild Semifinal Matchups in Women's Small College
But we're saying this is weird because Endicott and St. Bonaventure pretty clearly have the top resumés in the competition. Maybe it will work out that either SUNY Cortland or UW-Platteville are stronger than the other two. Platteville has won big in pretty much every game thay have played and their semifinal win over Wayne State was very impressive. Cortland had to work for it a bit more in the semis, and, remember, has already lost to St. Bonaventure.
CRAA Fall Classic Matchups Set for Saturday
The College Rugby Association of America Fall Classic lineup of games is set for this coming weekend.
Four games will be shown on The Rugby Network live from American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC Saturday, December 2.
Women's Fall D1 Championship
Friday will see Air Force take on Northeastern and Colorado Mesa face UConn in the semifinals. The winners will face off at the Fall Classic on Saturday at 4PM.
Wild Semifinal Matchups in Women's Small College
St. Bonaventure has only been pushed once all season, but SUNY Cortland (see about them below). Other than that 36-22 result, Bonnies averaged a 72-5 scoreline in their other eight victories. This included four shutouts. Their attention to detail on defense is backed up by a team approach on attack and a forgiving attitude, which you need.
“Mistakes are bound to happen," said Head Coach Meredith Pyke after SBU's conference final win over Cortland a month ago. "But instead of getting frustrated, they did a good job of holding together.”
Leading the way for St. Bonaventure is 2022 NCR All American Makenna Ramsey, who, in the nine games this season, has scored 40 tries. She scored seven in two successive games and five against Cortland in the conference
The Rugby Network Announces Partnership with CRAA
The Rugby Network (TRN) has announced a partnership with the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) to exclusively broadcast its matches for Fall 2023 through Spring 2024.
The new deal will expand exposure to college rugby in the US as TRN will show 13 events starting this month. This includes the Fall Classic Women’s D1 Championship and D1A Bowl games in North Carolina on Dec. 2, as well as UCLA hosting Oxford University on Dec. 7.
NIRA Finals: Bowdoin Unity, Davenport Speed, Harvard Drama
The National Intercollegiate Rugby Association crowned their champions Saturday at Harvard's Mignone Field, with DI, DII, and DIII winners celebrated.
Harvard won the DI final 20-12 over Dartmouth in a high-level championship game that certainly showcased NCAA varsity women's rugby in an excellent light. More details here: Harvard Takes Sparkling NIRA DI Final Over Dartmouth
Harvard Takes Sparkling NIRA DI Final Over Dartmouth
In a game that lived up to the hype, Harvard defeated Dartmouth to win the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association DI varsity championship.
Paced by two tries from wing Lennox London and one from flyhalf and game MVP Brogan Mior, the Crimson won thanks to an adventurous attacking style and a determined goalline defense that made Dartmouth work enormously hard for their points.
The kicking game was hugely important but for the most part both sides were up to the challenge.
Where the battle was certain enjoined was the contact area. Both sides found it difficult to work through multiple phases because the collisions and the speed of defenders over the ball forced several turnovers.
Three NIRA Champions
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.
Photo Alex Goff
NDC vs Michigan Part Deux in NCR Women D1 Final
It will be a 2022 rematch in the final of the NCR Women's D1 playoffs.
Notre Dame College and Michigan will face off once more.
In 2022 NDC came in thinking they could dominate up front and use their more unified game plan to win. But Michigan's own brand of unity saw them through, and with a supremely quick set of outside backs, led by Ember Larson at fullback, they won the title. Hit by illness which slowed them down, NDC remembers that weekend rather vividly.
"Don't get sick," was how to win this time, said prop Alivia Leatherman, who is a capped Eagle as a junior.
This weekend was a bit of a rehearsal for the Falcons, as they controlled a couple of teams with some speedy backs, Iowa State and Indiana.
Big Scores and Close Ones in NIRA Semifinals
This coming Saturday's NIRA Finals Day matchups are now set after this weekend's semifinals.
Here's what happened:
Harvard and Dartmouth
Harvard defeated Sacred Heart in impressive fashion 60-5. Sophomore Lennox London scored three tries to lead the Crimson.
It was a physically demanding first half and while Harvard was able to score through London, Charlotte Gilmour, and London again, their 15-0 halftime lead wasn't especially secure. PK Vincze broke through and set up London for the wing's third early in the second half, and then captain Sofia Hilger set up Tiahna Padilla for a try which, with Chloe Headland's conversion, made it 27-0.
Caitlyn Caldon's try finally put the Pioneers on the scoreboard, but Harvard finished the stronger.
NCR Women D1 Quarterfinals
For the most part the NCR Women's D1 college playoffs have gone to form.
Defending champs Michigan held off a very good Southern Nazarene team 30-20.
Northern Iowa continued their excellent run over form with a 53-24 victory over Virginia Tech.
So UNI will take on Michigan in the semifinals Sunday in St. Louis.
