CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard women's rugby will head to Atlanta, Ga., to compete in the USA Rugby Collegiate 7s Championship, hosted by Kennesaw State University from May 14-15. The Crimson will play its three pool play games on Saturday with the ensuing playoffs taking place throughout the day on Sunday. The tournament features over 60 collegiate teams in total between men's and women's with games held at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
Harvard Pool Schedule
Saturday, May 14
10:20 a.m. vs. Central Washington (Main Stadium – Field 1) - Peacock
12:40 p.m. vs. Penn State (Track – Field 2) – Peacock
5:05 p.m. vs. American International (Main Stadium – Field 1) – Peacock
Playoff Schedule
Sunday, May 15
Women's Gold Cup Quarterfinals: 9:00-10:20 (Field 1) – Peacock
Women's Gold Bowl Semifinals: 11:00-11:40 (Field 2) – Peacock
Women's Gold Cup Semifinals: 2:05-2:49 (Field 1) – CNBC/Peacock
Women's Gold Bowl Final: 3:33 (Field 1) – CNBC/Peacock
Women's Gold Cup Final: 5:11 (Field 1) – NBC/Peacock
How to Follow
Watch:
Peacock / CNBC / NBC
Championship Central
Twitter:
@RadcliffeRugby
What to Know
- Harvard lands in pool A of the women's gold division, matching up with Central Washington, Penn State and American International College in the pool play round. Pool B features fellow NIRA and Ivy members Brown and Dartmouth along with West Chester and Lindenwood. Army, Life, Queens, and Sacred Heart make up Pool C to round out the women's gold division.
- The Crimson won the Ivy 7s Championship last time out on April 23, successfully defending its title at Mignone Field. Harvard took down Dartmouth by a score of 24-17 in the championship game to secure the trophy.
- Harvard went 5-0 at Crimson 7s to begin the spring and sevens season, securing the tournament victory with a 25-17 triumph over Army in the cup final.
- The Crimson took down American International by a score of 43-0 earlier this season at Crimson 7s on Mignone Field.
- Harvard boasts a 7-1 record against fellow gold division teams this sevens season. The Crimson has beaten Army, AIC, Brown, Dartmouth, Sacred Heart and West Chester with its lone setback coming to Dartmouth.
- Senior Sofie Fella has starred for the Crimson this sevens season, leading the team with six tries at Crimson 7s before tabbing eight tries across four games at the Ivy 7s Championships.
- Senior Cassidy Bargell, a 2020 Sorenson Award finalist, returned to action at Ivy 7s and scored three tries including a championship game score. Bargell scored a bountiful eight tries in just four games played during the 15s season.
- First-year PK Vincze, who tabbed All-NIRA honors following the 15s season, returned at Ivy 7s to score a try and knock in nine conversions. Vincze led the Crimson with nine tries scored during the 15s season and has since featured at multiple USA Rugby U20 camps.
At the Helm
Mel Denham is in the midst of her fourth season (fifth year) at the helm of Harvard women's rugby. Earlier this spring, she led the Crimson to its second consecutive Ivy 7s championship at Mignone Field. Denham received the Ragatz Family Harvard Women's Coach of Excellence Award following her successful 2019-20 campaign which saw the program win its first-ever 15s national championship. She owns a 36-15 overall record in 7s play with the Crimson.
