CWU, Quinnipiac Reach Women's Varsity Final
CWU, Quinnipiac Reach Women's Varsity Final
Quinnipiac and Central Washington will renew their acquaintanceship Sunday after both won NIRA semifinals on Friday.
In the playoffs of women's varsity programs, Quinnipiac slammed West Point 65-8. Quinnipiac got two first-half tries from flyhalf Flora Poole, and touchdowns from Emily Roskopf, Ilona Maher, Caitria Sands, and Rebecca Haight for a 36-0 lead at the break. Quinnipiac didn't let off in the second half. Mason Johnson, Taylor Schussler, Poole, Maher, and Maggie Myles all scored, with Madison Gegeckas kicked five conversions.
Meanwhile, Central Washington also won big, 62-19 over AIC. Kathlena Truong, Yana Manoa, Suliuana A'au, and Michel Navarro staked CWU to a 26-0 lead after 18 minutes. After Kayla Clark scored for AIC, Cassidy Meyers and Carrie Vaillancourt replied for CWU, and then Navarro and Manoa added their second, each time. Asinate Serevi finished off the scoring for CWU with two quick tries. AIC scored twice late.
Navarro was a key attacker for Central, said Wildcats Head Coach Mel Denham.
"Michel was evasive on attack, swerving around defenders all over the field," said Denham. "Kat [Truong] had speed to burn on the wing and some great runs."
Ashlee Byrge added six conversions on the day.
Now these two teams meet up again, this time at West Point, just about a month since they met in Ellensburg, Wash. In that first game, CWU won 19-12 in a game that saw no scoring in the final 37 minutes.