Landisville, PA. – The Spring 7's season officially kicked off for the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team on Saturday, as they travel to Landisville, Pennsylvania, for the 2025 Frostbite 7's. It was a tale of two games for the Cardinals, who earned a split of their first two matches to start the two-day tournament. The Cardinal offense was rolling in game one, earning a 39-0 win over Kutztown, before AIC would hand Wheeling their first loss as a program In a 31-0 defeat.
Game One: Wheeling 39, Kutztown 0
After averaging 54.4 points per game during 15's season, the Wheeling offense came out strong first ever 7's game. It will be the Cardinal captain Ema Tai who would get the scoring started with the programs first ever 7's try just seconds into the game. A missed conversion kick gave wearing a 5-0 lead before Tai was right back at it on offense. She what's good for second try of the day, but another Mexican kick kept in a 10-0 Wheeling advantage. At the game went on, the Cardinals passed the ball around and It was Riley Bonds It was next across the try line. Bonds would score her first career try to keep the offense going as the Cardinals lead 15-0. Despite failing on the first three conversion kicks of the day, the Cardinal defense held strong throughout the match.
As the first half continued, Wheeling kept taking advantage of their opportunities Jemmely Rivera and Alexis Dallas would each score before the half, and a pair of missed conversion kicks would send the team into the locker room with a 25-0 lead. After the break, the Cardinals came out and continued their first half success, with Alli Davis becoming the fifth different Cardinal to score a try. Dakota Burgess would attempt the conversion kicks for the rest of the day, and nails were first effort to make it a 32-0 Wheeling lead. The final Cardinal try of the game came from Tamzin Boyce, who picked up her first 7's try of the season. Burgess was in again for the conversion kick, and sailed it through the uprights to bring the game to its final score of 39-0.
Leading the way for the Cardinals in game one was Ema Tai, who finished with two tries on the day totaling 10 points. Six different Cardinals would get across the try line in the game with Riley Bounds, Alexis Dallas, Jemmely Rivera, Alli Davis, and Tamzin Boyce all finishing with five points on the night. The final four Cardinal points of the day came from Dakota Burgess, who was 2-2 on conversion kicks to round out the effort. With pool play started with a win, the Cardinals looked to keep the momentum going heading into game two.
Game Two: AIC 31, Wheeling 0
With a diverse talent pool at the Frostbite 7's, Wheeling would match up with one of the top 7's teams In the NCAA in their second game of the day. The Cardinals would take on National Intercollegiate Rugby Association's (NIRA) American international College, and battled against one of the top offenses in the field. Wheeling will try to break through through the day, but the yellow jackets defense proved daunting in the effort. AIC had built a 21-0 lead by halftime and would add 10 more points in the second half. The Cardinals made one final push in the final seconds of the game, but there were unable to get across the try line in the effort. They would fall 31-0, barking the first loss in program history in 14 games between 15's and 7's season.
As day one of the Frostbite 7's came to a close, Cardinals found themselves sitting 1-1 in pool play. With two more pool games tomorrow, the Cardinals will look to set themselves up for a chance to compete for the Frostbite 7's trophy In the first ever 7's event. Their regional rival Walsh and Penn State stand in their way, As the Cardinals look to bounce back and get into the win column again
The Wheeling University Women's Rugby Team returns to action on Sunday, March 2nd, when they continue pool play Against Walsh, with kick-off at 10:20 AM.
