Wheeling, W. Va. - It was an early morning gameday from Columbus, Ohio as the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team took on Northeastern in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) DI Women's National Semifinals Sunday. It was an all-around attack on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals as they took down the Huskies 35-19 to sweep their weekend from Obetz Fortress. With the win, the Cardinals advance to the NCR DI National Championship game in Houston, Texas on December 7th as they continue their battle for a National Championship.
Northeastern would get the ball first and threatened in the opening minutes, getting inside the 25-meter line. However, the Cardinal defense came up with a big stop and the Cardinals would get their first offensive possession of the night. It didn't take long for them to get on the board as they got the ball into the arms of Tamzin Boyce. Boyce used her speed to race down the sidelines, and scored from over 50-meters out. Bella Gullatta would convert the conversion kick and the Cardinals were staked to a 7-0 advantage. The Cardinals wasted no time getting back on the board, getting down within five meters of the try line. After a couple pushes that were stopped by the Huskies, the Cardinals plowed their way across the line, and another Gullatta conversion kick would put the Cardinals up 14-0.
Northeastern would answer just a couple minutes later and missed the conversion kick to make it a 14-5 contest. After a back and forth, the Cardinals would set up a ruck from 10 meters out and set up their next phase. The Cardinals worked the ball to the outside, but a hit at the try line knocked the ball lose in the try zone. Gullatta would make a heads up play, jumping on the lose ball and adding the team's third try of the day. She converted her third conversion kick of the day and the Cardinals were out to a 21-5 lead. Northeastern would get on the board one more time before the half, and the conversion kick would send the teams into the locker room with the score sitting at 21-12 in favor of the Cardinals. Wheeling was spreading the ball around, with all three tries coming from three different players and they looked to continue their success into the second half.
They would turn to their leader in the second half of the season, captain Alexis Dallas and she did what she has been doing all season. She powered her way over a pair of Husky defenders and, a Gullatta conversion kick would make it a 28-12 Cardinal lead. The half would see both defenses step up, but with just 19 minutes to play, the Cardinals would put together one final scoring drive. The Cardinals set up their offense from the 10 meter line and set up their next phase. They would give the ball to Marlee Garrisson, who delivered a devastating stiff arm and powered her way into the try zone. Gullatta would wrap up her perfect day on conversions, and the Cardinals held a 35-12 advantage. Kutztown would score one more time before the final whistle and hit the conversion kick to bring the match to its final score of 35-19.
The Cardinals showed off their depth throughout the day, with their five tries being scored by five different players. Leading the way was Bella Gullatta, who not only scored one of the five tries, but was a perfect 5-5 on conversion kicks. She totaled 15 points on the day and finished the weekend going 9-13 in the opening two rounds. The other four Cardinal tries came from Tamzin Boyce, Alexis Dallas, Marlee Garrison, and Joelle Taylor, with each scoring five points on the day.
The Wheeling University Women's Rugby team will now prepare for the 2024 NCR DI Women's National Championship match on Saturday, December 7th.
