Wheeling, W. Va. - It was a special Friday night lights match-up for the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team (7-0) as they welcomed in Navy for their first-ever 15's match-up. It was a tightly contested first half, but the Cardinals were able to pull away with 20 second half points as they picked up a 37-14 win. After battling through the first 40 minutes, it was a Cardinal Captain that took over and led the Cardinals to their seventh win of the season.
That takeover came courtesy of Alexis Dallas, who led the way with 10 points in the match, all of those coming in the final 40 minutes of play. Wheeling was staked to a 17-7 lead at the halftime break, and it was Dallas who would get things going after a Bella Gullatta Penalty Kick started the half. On the team's second possession, they would set up with a scrum that opened the door for Dallas. She would take the pitch and ran through the teeth of the Midshipmen defense as she touched the ball down for her first score of the day. Gullatta would kick through the conversion and Wheeling extended their advantage to 27-7. Navy answered with their first try of the new half on the ensuing possession, but the Midshipmen would turn the ball over on their next possession, and Dallas once again came through. She put the ball down for her second try of the day, and just like that the Cardinals were up 34-14. It was a capper on a big day for the senior as the defense took over from there.
With the Cardinals already holding a 34-14 advantage, the defense that allowed just a half point a game coming into the night, shutdown the Midshipmen attack the rest of the night. Navy would push into enemy territory several times over the final 20 minutes, but the Cardinals would play bend, don't break, defense and took advantage of some Navy miscues. Wheeling would out scrum the Midshipmen 4-2 and would get their final points of the match in the 75th minute. Bella Gullatta would tee up her third Penalty Kick opportunity on the night and sailed it through the uprights. She would finish 3-3 in Penalty Kicks on the night, and helped extend the Cardinal advantage to 37-14. It would be a bounce back day on the kicking tee, and Wheeling would get their seventh straight when on the season, and their 19th straight win in 15's play since starting the program during the 2024-2025 season.
The Cardinal point leader on the night was Bella Gullatta, who led Wheeling's kicking effort with 17 points. She would go 3-3 on Penalty Kicks, including the Kick that sealed the deal, and 4-4 on conversions as she bounced back from a week ago. The only Cardinal to score multiple tries in the effort was Alexis Dallas, who finished with two tries on the day? Both coming in the second half. It was her second straight multi try effort, and gives her six tries over her last two games. The final two Cardinal tries came courtesy of Marlee Garrison and Ema Tai, who each scored one try in the effort. The Cardinals would score 35 or more points for the sixth time in seven games where they have taken the field, with the exception being a 12-point effort against Davenport, which was recently overturned due to a Panther forfeit. However, the defense gave up 10 points their most of the season, As they held a Navy team that averages 38.3 points per game at Bay.
It wouldn't take long after the openin kiickoff for the Cardinals to get going. After stopping the midshipman on their opening possession, the Cardinals would set up for a scrum just 10 meters out of the tryline. The Cardinals would pound the ball towards the goal line, and it was Garrison who was able to reach the ball across for the first try of the day. Gullatta got to tee the ball up right from the middle of the field and sailed the kick through as the Cardinals took in early 7-0 lead. However, Navy was ready to flex their offensive muscles And set up for a line out on the attacking end. They would get the ball into the hands of Grace McDonald, And she would do the rest, taking it across for the Midshipmen 's first try of the contest. The following conversion kick was good and in the 5th minute the teams were knotted up at 7-7. It looked like both offenses were in for a big day, but the two teens would combine for just 10 more points over the final 35 minutes of the half.
After the quick scoring to start the game, Wheeling would not be back on the board until the 17th minute after a Navy penalty set them up for a Penalty kick. Gullatta teed the ball up from about 25 yards out And sent the ball through the posts to extend the Cardinal lead to 10-7. Navy would get down within 5 meters of their tryline, but we're unable to make that final push across the goal line. Similarly, the Cardinal offense would make several pushes into enemy territory but were unsuccessful in adding points on the board. Wheeling would get a yellow card, forcing them to play a man down for 10 minutes And each of their attempts were squandered by the Midshipmen. The score would remain 10-7 until 5 minutes to go before the half. When the Cardinal defense caused a turnover. The Cardinals began to attack at midfield but we're denied on two separate pushes to get the score. They would have to move the phase to the outside and got the ball into the hands of captain Ema Tai. Tai would drive her feet and was able to touch the ball down inside the pile on for the score. It would bring the score to 17-10 before the Cardinals took off in the second half.
The Wheeling University Women's Rugby Team returns to action on Saturday, October 25th, when they hit the road to face St. Bonaventure with kickoff at 10 AM
