Wheeling, W. Va. - After playing out on the road over the first two weeks of the season, the Wheeling University Women's Rugby team (1-1) take to Bishop Schmitt Field for the first time in 2025. The Cardinals welcome in Ohio State for a rematch of the first game in program history, with kick-off scheduled for noon. Wheeling will be looking for a bounce back after taking their first loss in program history last time out as they begin a six-game home stand.
The Cardinals are coming off their first 15's loss in program history when they took on Davenport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The two teams battled over the first 10 minutes of the game before Davenport broke through in the 10th minute for the first try of the game. They would add one more try in the 20th minute and the Cardinals found themselves behind 14-0. Wheeling would get on the board in the 39th minute of the game with their first try of the day and kept things close as the team's headed for halftime at 14-7. However, Davenport's potent offense would keep coming, scoring their third try of the game in the 46th minute, and adding 28 points over the final 40 minutes of play. Wheeling would get across the try line once more time, but it wasn't enough as Wheeling fell to Davenport 42-12.
Wheeling would score two tries on the day, with Tamzin Boyce being the first on the board in the 39th minute. It was Boyce's second try of the season, marking the second straight match where she has gotten across the try line at least once. She is one of four Cardina;s to have multiple tries this season, sitting tied for second on the team with two tries, and third with 10 points. She is coming off a season where she was named National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) All-American, sitting second on the team with 11 tries and 55 points. Boyce has been an outside threat for the Cardinals since coming on campus last season and looks to use that speed to accelerate the team to the NCR National Stage.
The other Cardinal to get on the board in the match was Marlies Garrison, who scored her first try of the 2025 season in the second half. Garrison has been used in short meter situations throughout her two years with the team, and scores the sixth try of her career. She accounted for five tries a season ago and looks to keep pushing her way into the try zone. After not taking the field against Davenport, Bella Gullatta is looking to add on to her strong season-opening performance. In the first match of the season, Gullatta would set the single-match record with 37 points, going 3-3 on penalty kicks, 9-12 on conversion kicks, and scoring two tries. Gullatta has been the Cardinal's points leader since game one and looks to continue leading the team down the stretch.
Prior to Saturday's match, the team will be celebrating their National Championship team on Friday night with their National Championship Ring Ceremony. Players and coaches will be honored at the special event, being held in Troy Theater on campus from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. With the good feelings from the celebration floating into their home opener, the Cardinals look to carry that momentum and try to bounce back after the loss last Saturday. The Cardinals will be welcoming in the same Ohio State team that they played in their inaugural varsity match-up last fall. Wheeling looks to get the homestand started with a win as they begin a long stretch on their home turf.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Buckeyes are meeting for the second time in program history on Saturday, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 1-0. Ohio State will be making it's first-ever trip to Bishop Schmitt Field, after hosting the match between the two teams last season. The Cardinal offense was strong in that first meeting, scoring 35 points, and they look to be the driving force of the team this time around.
The last meeting between the two teams came on August 30th, 2024, in a match that the Cardinals would win 35-7. It would be Ema Tai leading the way for the Cardinals, finishing with two tries and 10 points in the contest. Following her was Bella Gullatta, who finished with seven points, while Tocarra Nelson and Jemmely Rivera each scored tries to round out the day.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday's match is scheduled for noon at Bishop Schmitt Field. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with a Live Play-by-Play by clicking HERE.
