The 2015 NSCRO Women’s National Championship was held on Dec. 5-6 at the Rugby Athletic Center in Charlotte, NC. The partnership with the RAC provided NSCRO with the opportunity to host the event in a facility fitting of a National Championship.

The recent growth in women’s teams participating in NSCRO meant that around 100 teams started on the pathway to the 2015 NSCRO Women's National Championship. At the end of conference play and the regional championships, the four teams still in the hunt were University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Colgate University, Lee University, and the Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

Championship Semifinals
In the first game of the day on Saturday, MSUM posted a 54-0 win over University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMassD). From the whistle MSUM pressured the UMassD team in all phases of the game and they were never allowed to show the form that got them to the finals.

Colgate University defeated Lee University 46-29 in the second semifinal match. The game was an end-to-end affair for 60 minutes. The result was in the balance until Colgate pulled away in the second half.

Championship Consolation
Lee University proved too strong for UMassD in the game for third place. While territory and possession were fairly even the difference was the finishing of Lee. When they were in the opposition 22 they came away with points, where UMassD failed to convert their opportunities. At the half Lee led 24-0 on tries from Hailey Thompson, Lydia Brown (2), and Nadia Steele, and two conversions by Lauren Kimmerly.

The second half started much like the first with Lee capitalizing on every opportunity. A try from Kelsey Martin, two from Thompson, and a conversion by Kimmerly took the score to 41-0 with 25 minutes to go. When it looked like Lee had complete control of the game UMassD finally found the form that had seen them go undefeated entering into the weekend. UMassD got on the scoreboard with a great 70-meter break from flanker Sierra Roberge. This was followed three minutes later by a try from wing Selena Amado who broke to the outside and went 50 meters to score under the posts. Kelly Kryzak converted and UMassD were in double digits, 41-12.

UMassD was not finished. From the kickoff, they moved the ball to Kelly Kryzak and it was the fullback’s turn to make the big break for a try to take it to 41-17. Lee rallied in the closing stages and a try from Ashley King with the conversion by Kimmerly took the final score to 48-17.

Lee University 48
Tries: Hailey Thompson (3), Lydia Brown (2), Nadia Steele, Kelsey Martin, Ashley King
Conversions: Lauren Kimmerly (4)

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 17
Tries: Sierra Roberge, Selena Amado, Kelly Kryzak
Conversions: Kelly Kryzak

Referee: Amelia Luciano

Championship
The 2015 NSCRO Women’s National Championship was contested between two teams of very contrasting styles: The traditional style of Colgate University who ran controlled attacks off set pieces and breakdowns versus the frenetic and physical style of Minnesota State University Moorhead who kept the ball moving from side-to-side and looked to turn the ball over at every opportunity.

Colgate attacked from the whistle and had all of the early territory. They drew first blood when a planned play from a scrum saw outside center Natalie Smith break through the middle of the MSUM defense before offloading to Aurelia Cassarubius who gave a quick pass to scrum half Maggie Nelson to cut back inside to score. The conversion was unsuccessful and the score was 0-5.

MSUM answered with a try in the 14th minute. After a series of close range attacks, Moorhead scrumhalf Breanna Bucklin floated a skip pass to wing Madison Geiser who went over the line from short range to tie it up at 5-5.

The first 20 minutes was an end-to-end affair with both teams spending time in their opposition's half. Typical of the end-to-end nature of the game was a passage of play that started with Natalie Smith making a break from deep inside Colgate's 22 meter. Smith beat the MSUM fullback and looked to be on her way to score only to get caught 10 meters out by the cross-covering Madison Geiser. Colgate was awarded a penalty in front of the posts and chose not to take the easy three points in favor of going for the try.

A series of Colgate attacks took them to within three meters of the line before the ball was stolen by MSUM’s Sawyer Salter. The flanker kicked the ball out towards the sideline where it was scooped up by Geiser who took it to halfway before getting illegally tackled. The resulting kick took the ball to the Colgate five-meter line. Colgate was able to briefly weather the storm before Breanna Bucklin went over from a well constructed penalty move, 10-5.

Moorhead's physical game began to take its toll on the Colgate defense. A stolen scrum at the five-meter line saw Breanna Bucklin go over for her second try. From the kickoff MSUM center Brandi Bucklin broke out from the 22 meter line, beat several players and went the length of the field to score under the posts. Mariah Adams converted to make the score 22-5.

Colgate rallied in the last two minutes of the half and the quick thinking Maggie Nelson took advantage of a lapse in concentration by MSUM to dive over from a tap penalty. Erica Hiddink converted to make the halftime score 22-12.

MSUM put Colgate under immediate pressure from the second half kickoff. Mariah Adams and Cassandra Boll were both held up in goal before Madison Geiser went over for her second try, taking Moorhead's lead to 27-12. Colgate came back immediately and strong runs by Erica Hiddink and Natalie Smith forced MSUM to give up a penalty. Maggie Nelson again went quickly and forced her way over the line from short range to close the score to 27-17.

Colgate finished strong in their semifinal game but any thoughts of a comeback were snuffed out by the relentless pressure of MSUM - particularly from Sawyer Salter who dominated the breakdowns and forced turnovers. The sideline-to-sideline play of MSUM stretched the Colgate defense resulting in tries for both of the wings as Sydney Zenzen scored in the left-hand corner followed by a try on the right flank two minutes later as Madison Geiser scored her third of the game. Mariah Adams converted to make the score 39-17.

Colgate never dropped their heads and they scored a fourth try when lock Meghan Pane scored from a ruck after a strong run from flanker Bria Vicenti. Hiddink made the conversion to take the score to 39-24. MSUM closed out the scoring as Sawyer Salter picked up a ball five meters out, brushed off a tackle, and crashed over the line taking several Colgate players with her. A fitting reward for the hard-working flanker who had been the engine of the MSUM offense all day.

Final Score: MSU Moorhead 44-24 Colgate

Moorhead 44
Tries: Madison Geiser (3), Breanna Bucklin (2), Brandi Bucklin, Sydney Zenzen, Sawyer Salter
Conversions: Mariah Adams (2)

Colgate 24
Tries: Maggie Nelson (3), Meghan Pane
Conversions: Erica Hiddink (2)

Referee: Olivia Nigh

- Authored by Bryn Chivers