CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women's rugby team fell to Army West Point, 25-17, in the NIRA National Semifinals at Mignone Field on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson finishes the year with a 6-2 overall record after finishing second in the NIRA regular season standings.
 
Exactly two weeks after playing to end the regular season, Army was back at Mignone Field for a postseason tilt. After the Black Knights broke through first, scoring a try eight minutes into the game to make it 5-0, the Crimson answered just six minutes later, with Jara Emtage-Cave feeding Michelle Groth for the try. Brogan Mior knocked in her tenth conversion of the season to give Harvard a 7-5 advantage.
 
Codi Butt added a penalty kick for Army before Sophia Linder scored her second try of the game for the Black Knights. With Harvard trailing 15-7 late in the first half, an Alex Pipkin punt was placed perfectly to hit Emma Kearney in stride as the senior raced home to make it a 15-14 game at the half after another conversion from Mior.
 
The second half saw both teams keep the other from getting into the try zone for an extended period, with a lone try from Army being the only score through the first 25 minutes. Brogan Mior put through a penalty kick with just over 11 minutes remaining to cut Army's advantage to 20-17. The Black Knights kept the Crimson out of the try zone for the remainder of the game, adding a late try to make it a 25-17 final in Cambridge.
 
Harvard Highlights 

• Senior Emma Kearney scored a try in her third consecutive game for the Crimson.
• Senior Michelle Groth scored her second try of the season and third of her career.
• Sophomore Brogan Mior put through two conversions and a penalty kick to pace the Crimson.

Game Notes 

• Harvard finishes its season with a 6-2 overall record. The Crimson has reached the NIRA Semifinals in all four seasons under Mel Denham, who has composed a 24-9 overall 15s record at Harvard.
• The Crimson suffered its first defeat at Mignone Field since Oct. 7, 2017, against Dartmouth. Harvard had won its previous 13 contests at home.
• Harvard splits the season series with Army after taking down the Black Knights 22-7 on Oct. 30.