Wheeling, W. Va. – After falling out of National Championship contention on Saturday, the Wheeling University Rugby team was back in action on Sunday in the consolation bracket. They would pick up another split of the day, going 1-1 to finish 11th overall in the tournament. It was a big day for the Cardinal captains in the effort as they rounded out a strong 7's season for the team.
Game 1: UNI 26, Wheeling 21
After a game two win on Saturday, the Cardinals moved on in the Bowl Bracket and would open the day with a battle against the University of Northern Iowa. It was all Wheeling early on as they got the ball on the opening possession and needed just 1:48 to get into the try zone. It was Emerson Callegari that got things started as she carried the ball through the middle of the uprights. Payton Olivas would handle the kicking duties for the Cardinals and sailed the first conversion through the uprights to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead. Wheeling would kick the ball back to UNI and the strong Cardinals defense was able to force a turnover to give Wheeling the ball back. When Wheeling got the ball back it was their captain that got things going as Alexis Dallas took a run. She took the ball and crossed the try line for her first try of the day and Olivas once again sailed the kick through to give Wheeling a 14-0 lead with just over three minutes to play.
That score would hold into the final minutes of play, but the tide began turn as UNI grabbed the momentum. They got across the try line twice in the final minute, including one to end the first half, and the game went into the break knotted up at 14-14. That momentum would carry into the second half, with UNI scoring the first two tries of the new half. They would go 1-2 on conversions and led 26-14 with 2:30 to play. It was a two score game with little chance of the Cardinals coming back, but they continued to fight until the end. When they needed a try the most, they turned once again to Dallas, who found the corner of the try zone. Olivas would sail her third kick of the day through the uprights, giving her a 3-3 effort in conversions, and the game came to its final score of 26-21. With the loss, the Cardinals headed to the 11th place game.
Leading the effort for the Cardinals was Alexis Dallas, who finished with 10 points on the day. She scored her first multi try game of the tournament for the Cardinals and helped them fight to the end. Payton Olivas finished right behind her with a 3-3 day in giving her six points in the game. Rounding out the day for Wheeling was Emerson Callegari, who scored one try and finished with five points. Wheeling would look to finish the tournament strong in the 11th place game.
Game 2: Wheeling 29, Frostburg State 0
After having a big game to start the day against UNI, Alexis Dallas kept the momentum going in game two. She would get the ball in her hands right off the opening kick and found the try zone to give Wheeling an early 5-0 lead. The early momentum carried for the Cardinals through the rest of the game as they had their second biggest offensive day of the tournament, led by their veterans. It was the Cardinal veterans leading the way as Shannon Whypji would get the ball in her hands with three minutes to play and pushed towards the corner. She would touch the ball down for her first try of the day, followed by the first conversion from Emerson Callegari and the Wheeling lead was pushed to 12-0. Wheeling would go to Whypji one more time before the half was out and she would race up the sidelines to score her second try of the day.
It would send the Cardinals to halftime with a 17-0 lead and the offense just kept coming in the second half. It once again started with Alexis Dallas, as she got across the try line for the second time on the day, giving her four on day two. The Conversion would fail and the Cardinals would get right back to work on their next possession. The Cardinals moved the ball around throughout the final five minutes, and would get across the try line The second two try game of the effort was captured by Whypji, who crossed the try line with five minutes to go and the Cardinal lead extended to 27-0. The final points of the day for Wheeling would come on the ensuing conversion as Dallas came in for the conversion. She sailed it through the uprights and the Cardinals would go on to win by the final score of 29-0.
It was another big day for Alexis Dallas, who finished with 12 points in the effort. She finished with two tries and her first conversion of the tournament. Shannon Whypji would add 10 points in the effort, scoring her first multi-try effort of the tournament. Rounding out the scoring was Emerson Callegari, who finished with five points in the effort.
The Wheeling University Women's Rugby team now heads into the off-season as they prepare for the 2026 15's season.
