Three-time defending NIRA champion, Quinnipiac University, ripped through an 8 – 1 try scoring margin two win over Notre Dame College in the conference quarterfinals Saturday, winning 46-5.
The Bobcats join Harvard, Dartmouth, and Army in the semifinals of the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association, the league of NCAA varaity programs.
Two tries apiece were scored by the Bobcats’ potent center pairing of senior Emily Roskopf and freshman Allison Koenig, while two more came from lock Mikah Maples, and still two more from Margot Vella. McKenna Haz converted three of the team’s eight tries.
NDC looked good early on, showing patience and method for a sustained drive in the first five minutes. They came out hard, feeding bodies through A and B channels. This was clearly the game plan. Hit for turnover, box kick as an exit and drive it home.
The Bobcats’ first-up tackling, line pressure, work in the rucks, and a poor day overall for kicking (blustery winds and muddy field conditions) turned that method into mayhem, however. As would become a theme for the day, Quinnipiac pounced on loose ball and quickly moved it to space, where they are tough to tackle and a little snakelike in evasion.
By the seven-minute mark, Roskopf had opened the floodgates.
“At times, when we start going down, it’s hard for us to get out of that hole," said NDC head coach Luke Markovich. "We let them play with their space, and we give them space, and it hurts us a little bit.”
Bobats Peaking
Roskopf was hard to handle all day. The perennial All-American made decisive line-breaks on five of the team’s eight tries.
Equally impressive though was the fundamental consistency shown throughout the Bobcats’ lineup. They are a well-drilled team. Their recognition of space, pass-catch efficiency, and their communication were all efficient.
Is Quinnipiac peaking at the right time? “I believe so,” said head coach Becky Carlson. “It’s always better to have the kind of start that we had and then finish this way, than it would be the reverse.”
The Bobcats are still young with only two Seniors on the squad, so it will be interesting to see how they carry this momentum into their rubber match with Harvard in the semifinal.
“Similar to the toughness that NDC has in the middle of the field,” said Carlson, “you’re going to get the same thing from Harvard as well. So, we won’t have to alter too much, but there are some specific positions within Harvard that we’ll be looking to attack.”
Carlson and her team are not planning to take a third loss on the season from the same team. “I think people see those early losses and kind of forgot about us.”
Teams don’t win three national titles in a row on a fluke, nor on just one graduating class and Carlson is definitely a goal-oriented leader. They will need to take another step up against Harvard on Friday. The Crimson have also improved each week and have their eyes on the prize as well.
Up Next ...
The Bobcats take on Army next week in the semis after West Point slammed Norwich 61-3.
"The program is on the right track," said head coach Bill LeClerc. "A lot of it is due to the people we're getting here and the group of girls working hard."
After their last two contests were canceled (including one against Quinnipiac), the Black Knights were eager to get back on the field. Sam Sullivan and Kaitlyn Schwarting both scored two tries. Sullivan now has ten on the season.
All-Ivy Semi
Meanwhile, Harvard defeated AIC 54-7. Sofia Fella scored in the first 35 seconds and Rachael Harkavy scored right after as the Crimson cruised. Harvard is undefeated this season at home. Caitlin Weigel scored two tries to make it nine for the season, while Cassidy Bargell celebrated a return to the field after injury with two tries.
Harvard will take on Dartmouth on Friday in the semis. Harvard defeated Dartmouth 12-3 in the Ivy League final October 27. But Saturday the Big Green was on top again, this time winning 75-15 over Brown. Camille Johnson, Marin Pennell, and Ale Ada all scored two tries.
"Today was a great team effort from all 23 players on the roster,"said Dartmouth head coach Katie Dowty. "The biggest key to the postseason for every team is depth, and we're very proud of how our veteran players have helped our newer players develop over the past few weeks. Today, we were able to spread out some invaluable match experience that will help us next weekend in the Final Four."
- Ryan Trost