Wheeling, W. Va. - Throughout the season, the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team (6-0) has been one of the most balanced teams in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR). On Friday night, they play one of their biggest matches of the season as they welcome in the Naval Academy for a Friday night lights match-up with kick-off at 5 PM. The Cardinals will look to excel in both phases of the ball as they continue to push towards the NCR National playoffs.
Last time out, the Cardinals welcomed in Walsh University and the offense put together one of their highest scoring affairs of the season. It would take just three minutes for the Cardinals to get on the board, and once they did it was hard to stop. The Cardinals would score 24 points in the first 12 minutes of play and were off to the races. They conceded their only three points of the day in the 17th minute, but once again kept putting their foot on the gas. Wheeling would score a season-best 60 points before the halftime break and went into the locker room with their advantage holding at 60-3. It was more of the same in the second half as the reserves came in and continued the work that the starters had put together. Wheeling would score 48 more points in the second half and would finish with 108 points on the night. It was two points shy of their single-game point record as they took down Walsh 108-3.
Eight different Cardinals would score tries on the day, with Alexis Dallas leading the way with four tries on the day. All four of those tries would come in the game's second half as she helped the Cardinals push towards the single-match point record. Dallas picked up her first multi try effort of the season and brought her season total to six on the year. It moved her into a tie for first for the team lead, as she continues to play a strong part on both sides of the ball. She leads the team in tackles this season, and uses her hard style of running to get across the try line four times in the effort. She was the Cardinal's leading try scorer with 17 tries a season ago and looks to continue to lead the Cardinals through the 2025 postseason run.
The other multi-try scorer would be Brie Lomu, who scored multiple tries in a match for the first time this season. She would score both of those tries in the game's first half, getting across the try line twice in the first half. She made her first career start with the Cardinals and both times she would burst down the sidelines to get into the try zone. The freshman looks to continue her success and be a big part of the postseason run this season. In the kicking game, Bella Gullatta would continue her strong work, and leads the Cardinals with 69 points on the season. She would convert five conversion kicks in the effort against Walsh University and over her two seasons in a Cardinal uniform, she has scored 259 points and has been a captain for the program.
As they head down the stretch, the Cardinals have four more matches as they prepare for their second straight run at a National Championship. The run kicks off on Friday night, with their first-ever home match-up against the Naval Academy. It will be the first time that the women's team has hosted an armed forces academy, and they come in with one of the most prolific attacks on both sides of the ball. They are averaging 58.5 points per game, while allowing opponents to score just 0.5 point per match, with all but one of their games resulting in a shutout. After Davenport was forced to forfeit their match earlier in the season, the cardinals record is back to being undefeated as they go back to being a perfect 17-0 as they continue their program-opening win streak.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Midshipmen are meeting for the third time in program history, with Wheeling leading the series at 2-0. Friday will mark their first meeting during 15's season, with the Cardinals averaging 24 points per game between the first two meetings. As the clock expands and the players expand on the field, the Cardinals will look to keep their winning ways alive as they bring in the Naval Academy to 15's season.
Their only meeting in program history came during the Frostburg 7's where the Cardinals went 2-0 against the Midshipmen. They won the first game 19-12 to start the day and when they met in the playoff bracket, the Cardinals would squeeze away with a 29-22 win. As they meet for the first time in 15's season, the Cardinals are looking to rack up the points on the day.
The Details
Kick-off for Friday night's game is scheduled for 5 PM inside Bishop Schmitt Field. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Play-by-Play by clicking HERE.
