Wheeling, W. Va. – For the first time as a Intercollegiate Varsity program, the Wheeling University Women's Rugby (2-0) played a home game at Bishop Schmitt Field. They welcomed in Emory & Henry for the inaugural event and had Wheeling's Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis deliver the game ball. The offense would not disappoint, scoring 13 tries and coming away with an 89-7 victory as they kicked off the first game of a four-game homestand.

From the first minute of the game, the Cardinal's offense was ready to strike. After causing an Emory & Henry turnover in the first minute, Bella Gullatta would send a Penalty Kick through the uprights to give Wheeling a 3-0 lead. Wheeling got the ball back and just two minutes later the Cardinals were across the try line for the first time on the day. Alexis Dallas made the first of several big runs for the Cardinals, getting across the try line and a Bella Gullatta conversion kick would make it a 10-0 score. The Cardinal's defense would come up with the second turnover of the day on the Wasp's next possession, and this time it was Mariah Crews who got across the try line and Gullatta added another kick to put the Cardinals up 17-0 just six minutes into the match.

Every time Emory & Henry tried to break through on the scoreboard, the Cardinals were there with a big hit to force the ball back to Wheeling's hands. In the 11th minute, Emory & Henry would be backed up on their own try line and Liz Sinatra knocked the ball loose. Abbi Siller would dive on the loose ball in the try zone and Gullatta kicked through her third conversion kick of the day to make it a 24-0 game. Gullatta's foot would be the source of 24 of her team's 89 points on the day as she added three more in the 16th minute. She punted a drop kick through the uprights and the Cardinals were put up 27-0. In the 18th minute, Marlee Garrison would be the next Cardinal to get into the try zone and Gullatta would kick through the conversion to make it a 34-0 game. 

The Cardinals were already only one point shy of their total offense from the first match, and began to sub in their reserves at the end of the half. Gullatta capped off what would be a big half for the junior as she picked up her first try of the day and followed through with the conversion kick that brought the match to a 41-0 Wheeling advantage. Wheeling would add two more tries before the half was out, with Tocarra Nelson and Tamzin Boyce each getting on the score sheet. Gullatta would go 1-2 on the final two conversion kicks and Wheeling would head into halftime with a  53-0 advantage. The Cardinals scored seven tries in the first half by seven different players as the offense spread the ball around. Gullatta would lead the way in the first half with 24 points, finishing with one try, one penalty kick, one drop kick, and a 6-7 mark in conversion kicks.

Throughout the second half, Head Coach Ken Pape would get the opportunity to sub in his reserves throughout the second half. One of those reserves would make an immediate impact running through Wasps defenders and getting into the try zone for the first second half score. Marissa Hudson would come in to attempt all second half kicks, and knocked through her first attempt of the day to make it a 60-0 game. Eight minutes later, the Cardinal's would turn to their captain Dakota Burgess to get back on the board. Burgess would get across the try line and Hudson sailed through the conversion kick and made it a 67-0 affair. The Cardinals would then have their first multi try effort of the day when Boyce took a pass and ran it the rest of the way for her second try of the day to make it a 72-0 game. 

In the 61st minute, the Cardinals were back on the board as Aniah Wright scored her first career try. Another missed conversion kick would bring the score to 77-0 with 19 minutes to play. Emory & Henry would push across their first try of the day in the 67th minute when Alana Walker crossed the try line to make it a 77-7 game. The final two Cardinal tries came from Nadia Richards and Linda Dang, who got on the board for the first time in their collegiate careers to bring the match to its final score of 89-7. Hudson would put the conversion kick through the uprights following Richard's try and the Cardinals elected not to attempt a Conversion Kick on the final possession as the game came to an end with the score standing at 89-7.

Wheeling's offense passed the ball around effectively throughout the night, with 12 different players scoring the 13 tries for the team on the day. Tamzin Boyce was the lone Cardinal to finish with multiple tries on the day, finishing with 10 points in the game. Bella Gullatta was Wheeling's points leader, finishing with a try, a penalty kick, and a drop kick, while going 6-7 on conversion kicks. The other 11 tries came from Alexis Dallas, Mariah Crews, Abbi Siller, Marlee Garrison, Tocarra Nelson, Jemmely Rivera, Dakota Burgess, Aniah Wright, Nadia Richards, and Linda Dang. They more than doubled their total points from game one and now have 124 points across their first two matches of the season.

The Wheeling University Women's Rugby team returns to action on Saturday, September 14th, when they host the University of Cincinnati at 1 PM.