Winona State can repeat as USA Rugby Women's D2 College fall champion this weekend, but will have a tough time doing so.
The Minnesota team really wasn't tested in league play, with far too many blowouts and forfeits to give anyone a taste of what they could do.
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We did find out in the playoffs, and what we found was that Winona State can score on very good teams, but might be vulnerable on defense. Sure Colorado Mesa scored two of its tries in the final ten minutes, but winning 37-33 wasn't especially convincing.
But, they can score out wide, as wing Julia Pokorny and center Abigail Andler have shown, and they can score in tight, as front-rowers Makayla Leraas and Sidney Stokes have shown. This is a team with weapons.
Facing off against Winona State is a University of Cincinnati team that blew away the playoff opposition, beating Illinois State and IUP 82-20. It's a very tough, physical UC team that is solid on defense. If they can shake up Winona State, they have an excellent shot at the final.
In the other bracket, Vassar returns to the final four with the reputation of doing whatever it takes. If they've got a devastating No. 8, they'll ride that player to success. If they've got speed, they will run. And sometimes, you'll see what is usually a very small Vassar team, run six, seven, or eight players over the ruck to just phase-play you to death.
Prop Katilin Prado and No. 8 Oshana Reich have been prominent in the scoring, and the forwards will likely be the decider in this game. Head coach Tony Brown has his players executing at set piece, and forcing defenses to play defense for long periods.
But ... they will play a Coast Guard team that is an offensive powerhouse. The USCGA scored 126 points in two playoff games and held the opposition to just 12. They can play defense, and can also punish turnovers.
They're also not afraid to do the same thing again and again if it works. Lock Hayden Short scored five tries against Bloomsburg as a result. She, fullback Hollis Roush, and wing Catherine Burns are players to watch.
There is no way to know how this will come out, but at the moment, Coast Guard's dominance in their results throughout the season might just make them the favorite.