Wheeling, W. Va. – When it was announced that Wheeling Women's Rugby would become the 21^st intercollegiate varsity sport at Wheeling University in May 2024, no one could have imagined the immediate impact the program would make. In their first varsity season, the Cardinals would win the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) DI Women's 15's National title, becoming the first inaugural program to win a national title. As they enter the 2025 season, the Cardinals are looking to build on that winning tradition and become only the third team in NCR history to win back-to-back national titles.

In 2024, the Cardinals would take no time showing they were a powerhouse in the NCR Women's Rugby scene. The team would win each of the 12 games they played on the season, led by a balanced approach on both sides of the ball. The offense would come out fast and strong, averaging 54.4 PPG while scoring 50 or more points in six of those 12 games during the season. For as good as the offense was, the Cardinals prided themselves on a hard-hitting defense that held the opposition to just 8.4 PPG. The Cardinals would earn five shutouts on the season, capping off what was a historic fall 15's season run.

After winning a national title a season ago, the Cardinals are getting even stronger this season, with all but one player returning from last year's run. Leading the way throughout the season once again will be senior captain Bella Gullatta, who handled most of the kicking duties for the team. She would make 72.37% (55-76) of her conversion kicks during the season, while going 4-6 in Penalty Kicks. Along with her kicking ability, Gullatta was also a prolific try scorer for the team, touching the ball down nine times to sit fourth on the team. For her efforts, Gullatta would be the team's leading scorer, putting up 170 points during the year, finishing 83 points higher than the next closest Cardinal player. As they enter 2025, Gullatta will once again be looked upon to handle a bulk of the kicking duties for the Cardinals and looks to once again lead the way on the pitch.

Wheeling's top try scorer on the season would be Alexis Dallas, who finished with 17 tries while totaling 87 points. As the season went on, Dallas would continue to raise the bar as the season went on. As the Cardinals approached the NCR playoff run, Dallas would turn it on hitting a run of four straight games where she scored multiple tries, while finishing with at least one try in each of the Cardinal's final six games. She set the single-game record when she scored four tries against Kent State on October 12^th, and kept the good times rolling all the way through the NCR Semifinals game. The other top scorer for the Cardinal's backs group was Tamzin Boyce, who finished with 11 tries and 55 points during the season. Boyce came bursting onto the scene for the Cardinals, She was one of two Cardinals to score multiple tries in the National title game and was a spark up the sideline for the team.

Moving to the forwards, the Cardinals have plenty of size that helps them impose their will on the defensive side of the ball. While she was one of the team's top scorers, Dallas also led the defensive side of the ball in tackles and tackles/game. The forward group also returns Joelle Taylor, who was a monster for the Cardinals in short-yardage situations. Taylor would routinely power through opposing defenses, scoring seven tries during the 15's season, with many of those coming inside the 20-meter line. The Cardinals will also return Jemmley Rivera and Marlies Garrison to the forward group as they look to be big players on the defensive side. Along with the returning group of players, Head Coach Ken Pape has doubled the roster size from last season, with several freshmen fighting for spots in the starting 15 on both sides of the ball.

When talking about the 2025 schedule, Pape says that he has leveled up the schedule, with the Cardinals challenging themselves throughout the season. They kick-off the season next Saturday on the road at Penn State, the team that played them the toughest during the 2024 regular season. Wheeling plays their first two games of the season on the road, before opening the 2025 home schedule on September 13^th when they host Ohio State. It will be the first of a seven-game home stretch that includes matches against Mount St. Mary's, Navy, and St. Bonaventure, and stretches from September 13^th to October 11^th. Wheeling will go on the road for their final two games of the season, as they face Regional Rival Walsh on October 25th, and wrap up the season with a rematch of last season's NCR DI 15's Quarterfinal matchup with the University of Virginia.

The Wheeling University Women's Rugby team opens the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30^th, when they hit the road to face Penn State.