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NCR Women D1 Roundup: Who Are the Top Teams? We Tell You

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NCR Women D1 Roundup: Who Are the Top Teams? We Tell You

Northeastern might throw a wrench into the NCR Women D1 playoffs.

Women's D1 rugby in NCR is probably down to probably seven teams as we get to the business end of October.

And for many it is indeed the business end. Before we get to the playoffs several teams have important matches that will affect their seeding position. In addition, remember that the entire Rugby Northeast is in play this time and that adds more difficult teams that had been playing in CRAA.

Here's a bit of a look at who is putting their hand up to challenge for a title.

Allegheny

Notre Dame College came out of this conference to make the NCR final two years in a row. As you will know, the actual institution of Notre Dame College is now closed, and a large percentage of NDC Rugby transferred to Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. Well, the thing is they also graduated some effective players so Walsh is at the same time a new program and a rebuilding program. They are 2-1 thanks to a 17-15 loss to St. Bonaventure, and that's a big result because it could have major ramifications. 

St. Bonaventure is 3-0 in-conference and 4-0 overall, having shut out their other three opponents with scores above 100. Makenna Ramsey has scored 12 tries, Natalie Lamar eight, and Taylor Cohen six. Interestingly, none of those scores in the 17-15 win over Walsh—that was Jillian Rea, Kaylee Middaugh, and Jaylei Wagstaff, with Elizabeth Lyons getting that crucial conversion. Lyons has 42 points in four games, 32 from the boot.

Also 3-0 is new program Wheeling. They have played more games than everyone else, having played six games (and received one more forfeit). So a much more battle-hardened Wheeling side plays Walsh on November 2.

Big 10

Michigan is looking to win three NCR titles in a row, but is doing it with a different lineup this time. The Wolverines do sit 3-0 and have Michigan State on the horizon this weekend.

"It's been a big shift having graduated 11 seniors last May," said Head Coach Jamie Frech. This graduating included try machine Ember Larson. But ... "we've been riding the tide of great recruitment and a solid strategy."

What has helped is USA 7s player Alena Olsen, who ran a clinic in Ann Arbor and, with her Bronze Medal, generated much interest in the program in campus.

""The hardest part each year is figuring out with our small coaching staff how to engage and teach the game quickly to our rookies while filling gaps in our top side," said Frech. "At this stage in the season our efforts are paying off with a few freshmen that have really stepped in and stepped up. The playoffs look different this year too as we go East instead of West and will likely face a Varsity opponent and Game 1. We are having a great run so far as we iron out the last details for playoffs and can’t wait to test our strategy against new opponents."

That would be someone like Bonnies or Wheeling.

Purdue is 3-1. They lost 36-7 to Michigan but have done well elsewhere.

Lonestar

Southern Nazarene is another school-supported team winning games. They are 3-0 in-conference led by many tries from Maya Hartnett. But notable would be the Crimson Storm's losses—92-7 to Lindenwood and 38-19 to BYU. Those losses show they can hang with the likes of BYU, and the speed and power of Lindenwood was a good lessons for them. They are certainly a team to watch.

Northeast

With a good win over UConn, Northeastern seems to be THE team coming out of the Rugby Northeast. Not to put down UConn or BC, but the Huskies are on top. This weekend they can emphasize that with a win over BC. They are led by a superb second row in Molly McAlevey and Ella Hughes, and that's what is special about Northeastern; their best unit isn't their 6-7-8 unit or their halfbacks, or their centers ... it's their locks. You don't see that in women's college rugby. Northeastern's excellent second row could be a game-changer.

South Atlantic

Virginia is 3-0 but with Central Florida at 2-0 and Howard at 1-0 they still have some work to do. The Cavs have Howard coming up and we could look back at last spring when Virginia beat Howard by only a point. Howard's narrow pitch might have contributed to that as Virginia usually likes to play wide. 

UVA Head Coach Nancy Kechner said Howard has some other qualities that caused her side trouble.

"Howard is always tough and never gives up," she told GRR. "Every one of them is like a running back – they are deadly runners."

Virginia, as we said, usually loves to play wide, but they have a really strong front row. Verita Bordoh-Ansah, Isabella Gega, and Taylor Wreath all do the things front-rowers need to do, and they carry well, also.

UVA's halfback combination of Clare Turney and Mary Lyle Smith is back after a semester abroad for Turney and a slightly less fun ACL repair for Smith. Another player with a repaired ACL is inside center Milena Keene, and she has been very good so far. Fullback Kate Delaney is a constant threat.

"We’re hard to play because we don’t play a set system," said Kechner. "We can switch from old-school to new-school playing styles depending on whom we play and what they give us to attack. We look forward to playing Howard. They’re fun, hard, and have great spirit."

As for Central Florida, they play Lander in the rescheduling of a hurricane-postponed game. That's key for UCF and also Lander.

Midwest

A challenger for both NDC and Michigan in the past two years is Northern Iowa. UNI is 5-0 and have booked a playoff spot after edging perennial D2 challengers UW Eau Claire. If you want to find an Achilles Heel within the UNI team it might be defense. Even when they win big they give up tries. Just behind them is Iowa, a team UNI beat 50-24. 

So ...

Wheeling, St. Bonaventure, Walsh, Michigan, Purdue, Southern Nazarene, Northeastern, UConn, Virginia, Central Florida, Northern Iowa, and Iowa. Maybe also NC State and Howard.

Really, if we see a quarterfinal bracket that doesn't include Wheeling, Bonnies, Michigan, SNU, Northeastern, UVA, UNI then we'd be very surprised.