CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Women's Rugby team won the NIRA Semifinals against Army, 41-24. The Crimson will now advance to the Championship Finals on Saturday, Nov. 19th.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- The Crimson scored seven tries in the match: three in the first half and four in the second half.
- Chloe Headland made three conversions. If not for the unforgiving wind today at Mignone Field there would be a few more conversions notched.
- The Crimson maintained the lead for the whole match after Brogan Mior's try towards end of the first half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- From the start of the game, the ball was maintained within both sides of the middle field. Army held ball possession, scoring the first try, 0-7.
- Alex Pipkin came in and scored the first try for the Crimson. Chloe Headland landed the conversion, evening the score to 7-7.
- The Crimson and Black Knights battled it out for the next ten minutes. The Crimson pushed their offense forward when Brogan Mior caught an amazing pass from Sofia Hilger, finding the opening to score the Crimson's second try. From this try is when Harvard maintained their lead for the rest of the match, score 12-7.
- The first half-time clock ran out but play continued to finish the scrum, Harvard won the scrum and with a few great passes out to the wing Cameron Fields where she scored the try.
- The score was 19-7 at halftime.
- Only a minute into the second half, Tiahna Padilla scores the second half's first goal, 24-7.
- Army came back to score a try not long after Padilla's try, score was 24-14.
- Out of a ruck, a Black Knight passed back to a teammate close to Harvard's try zone. Lennox London recovered a live ground ball to score a try bringing the score to 29-14.
- Chloe Headland saw a similar opportunity where she also intercepted an incomplete pass by Army to run and score the try. The Crimson now had a firm 20-point lead bringing the score to 34-14.
- In an effort by Army to notch some more points the team scored a drop goal bringing the score to 24-17.
- Cameron Fields, with her unbeatable speed, made a 20-meter dash where she scored a try. Chloe Headland made the conversion bringing the score to 41-17.
- In the last minute of the match, the Black Knights scored a try.
- The final score was 41-24 with the Crimson taking the win.
- It was clear both teams had skill, finesse, and showed a lot of physicality.
WHAT IS NEXT
Harvard advances to the NIRA Championship Finals to play Dartmouth on Saturday Nov. 19 (ESPN+).
