Charlottesville, VA. – For the second season in a row, the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team (10-0) wrapped up a perfect regular season on Saturday afternoon. They traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia for a rematch of the last season's National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) 15's Playoffs against the University of Virginia and they came away with a 55-24 victory. Six different Cardinals would get across the try line as the program extended their winning streak to 22 straight 15's season wins and enter the NCR National Playoffs as the #1 seed.
As they have all season, the Wheeling offense got rolling right from the get-go, taking the ball down to within five meters of the try line. They would put the ball into the hands of Stitch Savielo, who would bulldoze her way across the line for her first try of the season. Bella Gullatta came in for the ensuing conversion kick and she sailed it through the uprights to give Wheeling an early 7-0 lead. It was the start of a big run of success for the Cardinals that saw the team score on three consecutive possessions. Freshman Rafi Barrack was next on the board, kicking off a big day with a run down the sidelines. She would score her seventh try of the season, moving herself into third place on the team and would fail on the ensuing conversion to make it a 12-0 game. The third score would come courtesy of Alli Davis as she got across the try line for her first score of the day and the Cardinals held a quick 17-0 lead 10 minutes into the game.
The Cardinals defense would come up with a big stop on the next Cavalier possession, and the Wheeling offense would continue their role. This time, they would drive into enemy territory, and for inside 10-meters of the try line. After going through their phases, they would get the ball to Marlee Garrison, who finished out the run with her first try of the day and the Cardinals extended their lead to 22-0. Gullatta would miss the ensuing conversion kick from the sidelines, but the Cardinal defense would continue doing their job. It wasn't to think the final two drives of the first half that Virginia would get on the board as they snuck across the try line for two scores. They would hit each of the ensuing conversion kicks and they cut the deficit to 22-14. That would be the score as the teams headed into halftime and Wheeling would look to keep things going as they moved into the second half.
The Cardinals would need a spark to stop the surging Cavaliers and would get one by handing the ball to their breakout freshman Emerson Callegari. She took the ball up the sidelines and dove across the try line for the score. Gullatta would also get back on track, hitting her second conversion kick of the day as the Cardinals. Extended their lead to 29-14. The Cardinals further cemented their lead on the next offensive possession, with Garrison crossing the try line for the second time in the game. Gullatta added her third conversion of the night and the Cardinals lead went to 36-14 with 15 minutes to play. Virginia would add another try and a conversion on their next possession and, as the 70th minute ticked by, the Cardinals held their lead at 36-21 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
As the reserves started to make their way into the game, their impact would be immediately felt on the scoreboard. Up first was Heavenly Afase, who scored her first try of the game and a missed conversion kick would bring the score to 43-21 in favor of the Cardinals. The final Cavalier score of the day would come on a penalty kick that got them to the 24 point mark, but Wheeling would close out the day with two more tries. The first came from Riley Bonds, who got across the try line for the second time on the season as the score was pushed to 48-24. It would be the second Cardinal to score two tries on the day who ended it as Rafi Barrack got the ball in her hands. Barrack was able to get across the try line for the second time today, putting her at eight for the season. The final two points would come courtesy of Gullatta, who sailed through her fourth conversion kick of the fayto bring the game to its final score of 55-24.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was a pair of multi score try scorers in Rafi Barrack and Marlee Garrison . Each would account for 10 points on the day, while Garrison picked up her first career multi try effort. Bella Gullatta equalled their effort with 10 points, all coming in the kicking game. She would go 5-9 on kicks on the day as she rounded out a strong Regular season. The other Cardinals to get on the board in the effort were Stitch Savielo, Alli Davis, Emerson Callegari, and Riley Bonds who each finished with five points in the effort.
The Cardinals will now look ahead to their postseason run as they return to action on Saturday, November 15th, when they host Penn State in the NCR National Semifinal game with kick-off at 5 PM.
