CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – For the second time in program history, the Harvard women's rugby team is the NIRA DI Champion, taking down rival Dartmouth 20-12 in the final match of the 2023 15s season. The Crimson take home the NIRA DI Championship trophy for the first time since 2019.
Captain
Brogan Mior earned Most Valuable Player honors for a second time in her Crimson career, scoring a try in the first half and conducting the Harvard attack.
Lennox London rose to the occasion, capping off her stellar 15s season with a game-high two tries and 10 points in the championship contest.
Harvard finishes a 15s season perfect for the first time in program history, going 9-0 in the 2023 15s campaign. The Crimson dominated this fall, outscoring opponents 437-65 over the nine contests.
Head coach
Mel Denham leads Harvard to a NIRA DI title for the second time in her seven-year tenure at the helm of the Crimson tenure. Harvard wins the Ivy and NIRA Division I titles in the same season for the first time in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a tense first 12 minutes, Harvard got on the board first. With Dartmouth down a player due to a yellow card,
Tiahna Padilla found London on the outside for the first try of the NIRA Division I Final. After an unsuccessful conversion, Harvard took a 5-0 lead into the latter portion of the first half.
With around 12 minutes left in the half, the Crimson produced a huge try line stand. Dartmouth moved the ball down five yards outside the try line, looking to use its strength to reach the zone. Harvard's defense orchestrated an excellent stand, stopping the Dartmouth attack by forcing a penalty.
Dartmouth took a brief lead in the first half, as Cindy Taulava reached the try zone. A successful conversion put the Big Green in front, 7-5.
The Crimson responded immediately, scoring a try four minutes later. Harvard regained possession, allowing Mior to glide past the Big Green defense to reestablish the Crimson's advantage heading into the halftime break, 10-7.
Harvard's attack kept its momentum going, scoring quickly to start the final 40 minutes of the season. A chip kick from Mior created a two-on-one opportunity for the Crimson, as
Chloe Headland dished to London for the third Harvard try of the Championship final. Headland's conversion was successful, pushing the lead to double-digits, 17-7.
With just seconds left on the clock, Headland converted a penalty kick for three points, extending Harvard's lead, 20-7. Dartmouth scored a try as time expired, as the Harvard brought home the 2023 NIRA Division I title with a 20-12 win against Dartmouth.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Crimson win the NIRA Division I Championship for a second time in program history (2019 and 2023).
- Harvard finishes a 15s season with a perfect 9-0 record for the first time in program history.
- Harvard wins the NIRA Division I and Ivy titles in the same season for the first time ever.
- Mior caps off her illustrious Crimson career with Most Valuable Player honors. Mior earns the honor for a second time in her career.
- London was excellent in the 2023 NIRA Playoffs, scoring five tries in two games.
- Harvard outscored its opponents 437-77 over the nine-game 15s season.
UP NEXT:
The 2023 NIRA Division I Champion Harvard women's rugby team will return to the pitch in the spring semester for 7s action.
