Wheeling, W. Va. - In their inaugural season, the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team (11-0) has made waves across National Collegiate Rugby (NCR). They finished the regular season a perfect 8-0, were ranked #1 in the nation for the final four weeks of the season, and won both their first conference championship as well as their first two National Playoff games. On Saturday, they are looking to wrap up the year with another first as they battle #2 Southern Nazarene in the 2024 NCR Women's Rugby National Championship match with kick-off at 7 PM.
The Cardinals earned their spot in the national title game after a semifinal battle with Northeastern at Obetz Fortress in Columbus, Ohio. The Cardinals made their mark early in the game, scoring on their first possession and added another try and conversion kick two possessions later to take a 14-0 advantage. After allowing the first Northeastern try of the day, the Cardinals expanded their lead to 21-5. Northeastern would add one more try before the half and made it a 21-12 score as the teams headed into the break. The Cardinal's offense was relentless, but it was the defense that sealed the deal. They held the Huskies to just seven points over the final 40 minutes, and two Cardinal tries were enough to seal the deal. Wheeling walked away with a 35-19 win, advancing to the NCR Championship match.
The Cardinals spread the ball around throughout the day, with five different Cardinals scoring, but it was junior captain Bella Gullatta that led the way. Gullatta scored one of the five team tries on the day, and added a perfect 5-5 mark on conversion kicks, bringing her total to 15 points. Gullatta became the first Cardinal player to eclipse the 100-point mark in a single season, and has been right around 75% on conversion kicks this season. For Gullatta, this year's National Championship game is personal as she has played in each of the past two National title games and fell short with Notre Dame College and Lander University. She is looking to finally taste that gold this season and help the Cardinals complete the perfect season.
Along with Gullatta, Tamzin Boyce, Alexis Dallas, Marlee Garrison, and Joelle Taylor each got into the try zone. Dallas continues her late season success, scoring at least one try in her fifth straight match. Dallas has come to life for the Cardinals during the playoff run, bringing her season total to 13 tries on the year. Along with her recent offensive success, Dallas has also been a force on the defense, sitting as the Cardinal's leading tackler. Joelle Taylor had a breakout freshman season, and scored her second career postseason try in the semifinals. She has been known for her ability to run over the opposition and has played a big role in try line stands this season.
After heading down to Houston, Texas on Wednesday, the Cardinals have been using the last couple of days to adjust to the time change and prepare for the match. Many of these same girls made it to the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Championships with Lander University last season. They have the experience on a National stage and are now looking to complete their run and avenge a loss against Davenport a season ago. The Cardinals were ranked #1 in the NCR Top 20 National Coaches poll in each of the final five weeks of the regular season and are looking to prove they earned that ranking by bringing home a National title.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Storm will be meeting for the first time in program history on Saturday in the 2024 NCR National Championship match. The Storm enter the National Title game with a 9-2 record, with their two losses coming against top teams Brigham Young and Lindenwood. The Storm feature a high-scoring offense, averaging 59.2 points per game and the Cardinal's defense will be tasked with slowing them down. It is a battle of two of the highest scoring offenses in NCR Women's Rugby, and the Cardinals look to cap their season with a title.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday's National Championship match is scheduled for 7 PM inside Aveva Stadium in Houston, Texas. You can watch the game live on the Rugby Network with the purchase of a subscription by clicking HERE.
