Wheeling, W. Va. – Two weeks ago, the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team raised their first-ever 7's Tournament trophy at their Wheeling 7's. After a week of rest, the Cardinals are back in action on the road as they head to the Brown 7's Saturday with first games beginning around 11 AM. It kicks off a three-game road tournament stretch as they continue preparations for the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) 7's.
It was two weeks ago that the Cardinals hosted the Wheeling 7's, with a strong mixture of competition coming to Bishop Schmitt Field. The day started with Pool Play action as the Cardinals took on Robert Morris, Cincinnati, and the University of Pittsburgh in their side of the bracket. The Cardinals would go off, scoring a combined 168 points and shutting out their opponents. They would finish with a 3-0 record in pool play, and would advance to the postseason round, where they took on WVU. It was another big offensive showing for the Cardinals, picking up a 41-0 win. They would then pair up with Pitt in the tournament championship, and the Cardinals completed the shutout. They picked up a 41-0 win, shutting out all five opponents they faced on their way to their first-ever tournament championship.
Leading the way for the Cardinals throughout the day was Jemmely Rivera, who led the team in tries on the day. Her biggest performance came in the championship match, where she scored three straight tries to help the Cardinals build their lead. It was a continuation of the momentum she gained at the end of 15's season, where she scored two tries in the 15's National Championship game. Rivera totaled six tries across the five games to sit second on the Cardinals in tries (6), and finished fourth on the team in points (30). Rivera has been working with her team big Alli Davis throughout 15's season and into 7's season as they help each other grow and she is looking to use those lessons to her advantage on the field.
The only Cardinal to score more tries than Rivera was her big Davis, who scored eight tries totaling 40 points on the afternoon. Like Rivera, Davis would score multiple tries in the championship match, with both of those tries coming in the second half. However, her biggest game would be the opener against Cincinnati, where she totaled three tries in the team's 40-0 win. Leading the kicking game for the Cardinals on the afternoon was Marissa Hudson, who finished 7-11 (63.6%) on conversion kicks throughout the day. Hudson, who served as back-up for Cardinal kicker Bella Gullatta during 15's season, has transitioned into the main kicker role for the Cardinals during 7's. As Wheeling continues through their tournament schedule, Hudson looks to continue to be a strong kicker for the Cardinals.
With their spot in the Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC) National 7's already secured after winning the National Championships. As they play through their remaining three regular season tournaments, Head Coach Ken Pape is looking for his team to handle tougher competition to prepare them for the National Stage. Through their first two tournaments, the Cardinals have already faced some of the toughest teams in the area, including National Intercollegiate Rugby Association's (NIRA) AIC. The Cardinals will see several other NIRA teams in the Brown tournament as they continue to prepare for a run at their first-ever 7's National Title.
Tournament Details
The Brown 7's Tournament will be hosted by Brown University and is a one-day event being held on Saturday, March 22nd. The Cardinals only know their first matchup of the day, which will come against Sacred Heart University at 11 AM. The Cardinals will play through at least four guaranteed matches on the day, with a total of 15 teams participating across nine schools. Among the competition will be the host Brown University along with Roger Williams, St. Bonaventure, Northeastern, University of New Haven, American International College, Coast Guard Academy, Penn State, and Sacred Heart. The Cardinals will look to stand out among the field as they continue to look for improvements.
The Details
The Brown 7's Tournament is set to kick-off on Saturday, March 22nd, when the Cardinals take on Sacred Heart with kick-off at 11 AM. Follow along with wucardinals.com for coverage throughout the day.
