Wheeling, W. Va. – The 2024 season has been a historic one for the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team (7-0) as they continue through their inaugural season. In their first year, the Cardinals are 7-0 in seven matches and have been on the #1 spot in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Top 20 Coaches Poll for each of the last three weeks. On Saturday, the Cardinals play their final regular season game against Walsh, as they prepare for postseason play, with kick-off at 1 PM.

It has been two weeks since the Cardinals last took the pitch when they battled Kent State on senior day. After honoring their two seniors in a special pregame ceremony, the Cardinal offense went off, scoring a season-high 110 points. The Cardinals would get tries by nine different players on the night and by halftime their score already sat at 52-0 heading into the break. Wheeling would continue to score throughout the second half, scoring 58 points to get them to the final score of 110. It was the fourth time during the season that the Cardinals have scored 60 or more points in a match and the third shutout victory for the team. The Cardinals have been a well-balanced team throughout the season and they showed that again in their final home match of the season.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Alexis Dallas, who set the new single-match record with four tries in the game. She would get the Cardinals going in the match, scoring just two minutes into the game to get Wheeling ahead. It was the start of a historic day for Dallas, but it would be a play that she didn't score on that would be one of the most notable. Dallas was streaking down the sidelines on her way to her fifth try of the day, she would come to a hault. She allowed teammate Liz Sinatra to catch up and score as she capped off her senior day. Dallas is one of four captains for the Cardinals, and has made one of the largest impacts. She now has six tries on the season and has been the Cardinal's leading tackler on the defensive side of the ball.

In the kicking game, the Cardinals were once again led by Bella Gullatta, who has been a leader all season. Gullatta went 12-17 on conversion kicks, finishing with 34 points throughout the day. It was a continuation of an already strong season, where she has gone 38-48 on conversion kicks this season, making 79.1% of her kicks on the day. Gullatta will continue to be relied on in the kicking game throughout the postseason as the Cardinals chase down a National Championship. Another big player for the Cardinals throughout the season was Joelle Taylor, who has played a role on both offense and defense throughout the season. Nicknamed "The Monster" the freshman has lived up to her nickname, routinely running over defenders and finding the try line. She added a try against Kent State, bringing hers season total to four.

Over the last two weeks, the Cardinals have been off after a scheduled game against Life at the beginning of the season had to be canceled. During that time, the Cardinals have taken the time to continue working on the fundamentals of their game and getting healthy. Wheeling has not allowed more than one score in six of their seven matches this season as they look to keep their momentum going during the final regular season tune-up. Following Saturday's game, the team will have its sites set on postseason play. It will start next week with the Allegheny Rugby Union Conference Championships, and continue into the NCR National 15's Playoffs. In their first season, the Cardinals are looking to make an immediate impact and hold onto that #1 spot until the National Championships.

The Matchup

The Cardinals and Cavaliers will be meeting for the first time in program history on Saturday. It will be the first Nationally Ranked opponent that Wheeling will face this season, as they take on the #5 team in the nation according to the NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll. Wheeling is looking to start the all-time matchup strong as they play their final regular season match.

The Details

Kick-off for Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 PM inside Larry Staudt Field on the campus of Walsh University. You can watch the match live by clicking HERE.