Wheeling, WV- The Wheeling Women's rugby team (5-1) hosted Walsh University (2-3) for their first game since September 20th. Tonight was Senior night for Seniors Bella Gulatta and Nisaiah Berkely, and their teammates rallied behind their seniors with a memorable 108-3 victory. This win also clinched a postseason berth for the Cardinals.
Walsh kicked off to Wheeling to start the game and a couple quick penalties helped Walsh move towards the try zone off the bat. A turnover led to a quick score for Wheeling and by the 3rd minute it was already 7-0 Cardinals with a try by Heavenly Afaese and conversion kick by Senior Bella Gulatta. Wheeling scored even quicker off of the second kickoff, it only took a minute and a half for Alexis Dallas to set the ball down in the try zone. A conversion kick by Bella Gulatta made the score 14-0. In the 8th and 12th minutes Bri Lomo and Emerson Callegari made the score 24-0.
Walsh would then move the ball down the field and a Wheeling penalty led to a Walsh penalty kick attempt. In the 17th minute Ryan Reittenger converted her penalty kick attempt to give Walsh its lone score of the night, making it 24-3. That was about the last time Walsh was able to get the ball into Wheeling territory. Wheeling immediately answered back with a try in the 18th minute by Rafi Barrack. Wheeling would then score 5 more tries by the end of the half. Liz Sinatra, Tamzin Boyce, Alli Davis got their first of the night while Emerson Callegari and Bri Lomo would score their second of the night. Marissa Hudson and Bella Gulatta would each have one conversion kick made in that stretch. At the half the score was 60-3.
Coming out of the half, Wheeling had 100 in their sights. It took 7 minutes until Alexis Dallas broke away for her first try of the second half making the score 65-3. 6 minutes later Bri Lomo would join Dallas in the second half scoring and in the 53rd minute the score was 70-3. On that very next kickoff Alexis Dallas took it all the way back, showing off her stiff arm on the way. Marissa Hudson's conversion kick was good and just like that the Cardinals led 77-3 in the 56th minute. The Cardinals then had 3 tries, all 5 minutes apart from each other. The tries were courtesy of Rafi Barrack, Alexis Dallas, and Liz Sinatra. Bella Gulatta would make two conversion kicks in that same stretch. The score after the 71st minute was 96-3. Emma Tai propelled the Cardinals past the century mark in minute 77, and in the final minute of the game Joelle Taylor would give the Cardinals one final try and Bella Gulatta would split the uprights on her conversion kick.
Final Score Wheeling-108, Walsh-3
Alexis Dallas scored 20 points on 4 tries. Bri Lomo was Wheeling's second leading scorer with 15 points on 3 tries. Bella Gulatta, Emerson Callegari, Rafi Barrack, and Liz Sinatra all scored 10 points. Heavenly Afaese, Ema Tai, Alli Davis. Tamzin Boyce, Joelle Taylor all finished with 5 points on 1 try. Marrisa Hudson would round out the Cardinals scoring with 4 points on two conversion kicks.
Wheeling will take on Navy next Friday, October 17th, at Bishop Schmitt Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7PM.
