CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 1 Harvard punched its ticket to the NIRA Championship with a dominant 45–10 semifinal victory over Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon, fueled by a packed, high-energy crowd at Mignone Field.
Dartmouth struck first, converting a penalty kick to take an early 3–0 lead. Harvard settled in quickly, and nearly 18 minutes in, Maya Hilger crossed the line for the Crimson's opening try. The Big Green responded with a score of their own, but Harvard surged into halftime with momentum. Sophie Hayes powered through for a try, and soon after, Courtney Taylor finished off a well-executed team attack to give Harvard a 19–10 advantage at the break.
Harvard carried that energy into the second half, dictating pace and possession. Gemma Ogoke struck early with a try inside the opening ten minutes, setting the stage for an explosive stretch. Cameron Fields followed with a dazzling solo effort, slicing through defenders and running over half of the field for one of the match's signature highlights, before Ogoke added her second try of the day.
The Crimson sealed the result with a final score from Neasa McLaughlin, closing out a relentless offensive performance. Skylar Jordan was strong from the tee, knocking through multiple conversions to extend Harvard's lead throughout the afternoon.
With a complete team effort from start to finish, Harvard secured a decisive 45–10 win and advanced to the NIRA Championship.
The Crimson will host Lindenwood next Saturday, November 22, for the NIRA Finals at Mignone Field.
Harvard Highlights
