Division I

As part of USA Rugby’s National Championship Series, the Women’s Division I Semifinals and Finals will be played at Stanford University May 9-10.

Returning to the National Round of Four are 2013 Champion Penn State University and 2013 Semifinalist Stanford University. Up-and-coming programs American International College and West Chester University join the two perennial college rugby powers to round out the Semifinals.

Stanford vs. American International – Friday May 9 5pm PST

Coming out of the West Regional at Stanford University, the Cardinal did not have to travel far to earn its place in the Semifinals, but that is not to say Stanford’s road to the national round of four was not a difficult one – having beat two tough teams in Texas A&M and Women’s Cougar Rugby. The Cardinal put away Texas A&M rather handedly, as Madeline Wilson, Sarah Houamed and Sara Maurer each scored hat tricks to pace Stanford’s 78-5 win. Women’s Cougar Rugby presented Stanford a far greater challenge in the National Quarterfinal, but Stanford’s experience won out to the tune of 26-17. The competition will only stiffen at the National Championship Series, and Stanford will need stellar performances from AIG Women’s Collegiate All-American Aly Gleason and AIG Women’s Junior All-American Maxine Fonua.

American International’s first season playing in the Division I competition has been a successful one. AIC earned a place in the Midwest Regional at Bowling Green University, where the Yellow Jackets beat a talented Indiana University side in the round of 16. In the Midwest Final, American International nearly double-upped North Carolina. Number eight Megan Pinson scored four tries, while Rosalind Pena and Darian Lovelace each added two tries. Capped Women’s Eagles prop Jessica Davis, who scored three tries during the Regional Playoffs, is one of the best front rowers in college rugby.

Penn State vs. West Chester – Friday May 9 7pm PST

Reigning Division I Champions Penn State are two wins away from winning its ninth National Championship. Excluding its Ireland Tour, Penn State is undefeated this season heading into the Semifinals. The Nittany Lions dominated its host Regional Playoff, beating East Carolina and Army by a combined 197-15. Women’s Eagles Head Coach Pete Steinberg leads a roster with limitless talent which includes capped Women’s Eagles Meya Bizer and Hope Rogers, AIG All-Americans Brie Barto and Elena Cantorna, and AIG Junior All-Americans Elizabeth Cairns, Gabriella Cantorna, Danielle Ciocco and Kelsey Harris.

After winning the Mason-Dixon Conference, West Chester, a varsity rugby program, took the Southeast Regional by storm. The Golden Rams had their way with Georgia Tech, winning 63-26 on day one. In the National Quarterfinal, West Chester received multi-try performances from Arielle Gantt and Erin Gallagher, while flyhalf Katharine Walston totaled 18 points in the Golden Ram’s 48-14 win over New Mexico. West Chester’s Semifinal match against Penn State is a rematch from last year’s round of 16 when Penn State came away with a 58-5 victory.

See the full College National Championship schedule >>

Round of 16

The Round of 16 matchups have been determined for the 2014 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Women’s Collegiate Division I National Championship Series.

Sixteen of the very best women’s rugby teams will converge at four regional locations from April 25-27. The winning team from each regional playoff will qualify for the 2014 USA Rugby College National Championship Finals, held at Stanford University from May 9-10.

Midwest Regional – Bowling Green State University, April 26-27
Bowling Green, Ohio
Harvard vs. North Carolina
American International vs. Indiana

Northeast Regional – Penn State University, April 26-27
State College, Pa.
Penn State vs. James Madison
Army vs. Ohio State

Southeast Regional – Life University, April 26-27
Marietta, Ga.
West Chester vs. Georgia Tech
Central Florida vs. New Mexico

West Regional – Stanford University, April 25-26
Stanford, Calif.
Stanford vs. Texas A&M
BYU Women’s Cougar Rugby vs. Cal

The winners of the Midwest and West Regionals will play in one National Semi-Final, while the Northeast and Southeast winners will meet in the other Semi-Final match-up at Stanford’s Steuber Rugby Stadium.

An overview of the 2014 Women’s DI National Championship Series can be viewed here.

D1 – BRACKETS & RESULTS

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Division II

Four teams remain in the quest for the 2014 Women’s Division II National Championship. Cal State Northridge, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, University of Mary Washington and Florida International University will make their way to Stanford, Calif., to play in May 10’s National Round of Four.

Cal State Northridge vs. Indiana (PA) – Saturday May 10 9am PST

Northridge qualified for the West Regional Playoffs after beating UC Santa Cruz, 49-17, in a play-in match. At the Stanford Regional, Northridge disposed of Humboldt State on day one with the help of captain Ciarra Waters-Mullen and her two tries. The Matadors avenged their only loss of the season when they shut out Long Beach State, 12-0, to advance to the USA Rugby National Championship Series. The match was even closer than the score indicated, as Northridge scored a converted try in the final minute after Waters-Mullen’s third try of the weekend got her team on the board first.

After winning the Allegheny Conference Championship, Indiana (PA) competed in one of two Women’s DII Regional tournaments hosted at Penn State University. After taking care of Salisbury, 24-7, the Crimson Hawks shared the pitch with Davenport in the National Quarterfinal. Indiana again only allowed seven points and winger Brittany Lyons dotted down four tries, while fullback Morgan McLaughlin booted a total of eight points leading to a 28-7 win.

Mary Washington vs. Florida International – Saturday May 10 11 am PST

Mary Washington enters the Semifinalist field as a replacement for Appalachian State, which was forced to pull out after several injuries to key players depleted its roster. After winning the Women’s Capitol Collegiate Rugby Conference, Mary Washington earned its eighth trip to the DII Playoffs. In the Northeast Regional’s opening round, Mary Washington hammered Kent State, 131-0. Appalachian State was able to upend Mary Washington, 31-19, in the National Quarterfinals, but the unfortunate streak of injuries to Appalachian State opened the door for Mary Washington. Kooper Carter and Carter Moore are key to Mary Washington’s tight five, while scrumhalf Sophia Therriault, who scored 44 points in the win over Kent State, will be relied on heavily at Stanford.

A Florida Women’s College Conference Championship sent International to Life University’s Southeast Regional, where flyhalf Kimberly Semiglia’s 24 points helped guide the team’s opening round win over North Georgia. On day two, Florida International recovered from a 17-10 second-half deficit by scoring 26 unanswered points to close the game and get past Lee University, 36-17. Semiglia and wing Brittany Wilcox, who scored four tries during the Regional Playoffs, will need to continue their superb offensive production to run with Mary Washington.

The winning teams from the Semifinals will play for the Women’s DII National Championship May 11 at 1:30 P.M. PT.

See the full College National Championship schedule >>

Round of 16

The quest for the 2014 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Women’s Division II College National Championship begins this Saturday when four regional playoffs will determine the National Semi-Finalists from April 26-27.

Three colleges with some of the finest rugby facilities the country has to offer will graciously host the four Regional Playoffs: Life University, Penn State, and Stanford University.

Midwest Regional – Penn State University
State College, Pa.
Davenport vs. SUNY Geneseo
Indiana (Pennsylvania) vs. Salisbury

Northeast Regional – Penn State University
State College, Pa.
Appalachian State vs. American University
Mary Washington vs. Kent State

Southeast Regional – Life University
Marietta, Ga.
Lee vs. South Florida
Florida International vs. North Georgia

West Regional – Stanford University
Stanford, Ca.
Humboldt State vs. California State University, Northridge
Long Beach State vs. Western Washington

The National Semi-Final will be played at Stanford’s Steuber Rugby Stadium on Saturday, May 10 between the winners of the Midwest and West Regionals, while the Northeast and Southeast victors will also compete for a spot in the national title game. The 2014 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Women’s Collegiate Division II National Championship will be decided on the same pitch on Sunday, May 11.

An overview of the 2014 Women’s DII National Championship can be viewed here.

D2 – BRACKETS & RESULTS

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BROADCAST/LIVE RESULTS
No word on any broadcasts for Playoffs as there are four locations for each division. Wendy will be in Atlanta, and will update as she can on Twitter or Facebook. USA Rugby TV will stream the entire 2014 Emirates Airline USA Rugby College National Championship on USA Rugby TV.

HASH TAG (Twitter)
The hash tags for this event are #CollegiateRugby and #NCS2014. Also we recommend anytime you talk about Women’s Rugby on Twitter you include #wrugby. 

D1 – BRACKETS & RESULTS

D2 – BRACKETS & RESULTS

PAST RESULTS
2013 D1 / D2
2012 D1/D2
2011 Results (D1) / 2011 Results (D2)
2010 Results (D1) / 2010 Results (D2)