A New Landscape Heralded In NCR Women D1 Final
A New Landscape Heralded In NCR Women D1 Final
This year's NCR women's D1 playoffs were a drastic departure from the previous years.
With the addition of a completely new program, the influx of a growing new program, and the appearance of previously-CRAA conferences, the landscape was always going to be different.
Add to that the fact that two-time NCR D1 Women's champions Michigan had graduated some high talent and the two-time runners-up Notre Dame College had moved most (but not all) of their team to Walsh, and you knew something was going to change.
What did, indeed, change?
First off, Michigan and Northern Iowa and Virginia were all club teams and remain club teams. That's not a criticism; its a fact. These teams don't get much in the way of college support and as a result are more at the mercy of what student-athletes show up on-campus. They can recruit, of course, but it's a bit tougher. What also is true is that with the arrival of other top CRAA clubs, the competition in the early rounds of the playoffs is tougher. Northeastern has been an outstanding program for some years, and their absence from NCR didn't change that fact.
It was not an upset for Northeastern to beat Michigan in the quarterfinals. It was a close game, to be sure, but led by an outstanding tight five and Ella Hughes at No. 8, the Huskies won 32-26. Virginia and Colorado, meanwhile, lost their quarterfinals but both in very close games. Virginia may argue that they are top-four standard after losing to Wheeling 31-27 and then beating Michigan in the consolation match.
But all of that was pushed aside because of the presence of Southern Nazarene and Wheeling. These are varsity programs are the two competing in this coming weekend's final. SNU beat Purdue 55-7 and UNI 62-17.
SNU brought a combination of power (Selassie Ilasa and Lauren Anderson up front), explosiveness (Palu Sau at No 8), and pure attacking speed (Telesi Euhatafe at outside center) combined with a varsity team's S&C training they controlled the gain line and set piece.
Add to that a smart halfback combination in Chloe Tarango and Maddie Metier and you can see why they scored 117 points in two playoff games.
Wheeling, meanwhile, is in its first season. A full varsity program, the Cardinals brought in Head Coach Ken Pape, who had parted ways with Lander. Several Lander players followed him, and Pape recruited well. So even though Wheeling is a young program, the roster wasn't as young and inexperienced as it might have been.
Once again you had a school-supported program with proper S&C and more training-ground touches combined with talent. With Alexis Dallas having a superb game as captain and leading by example. Tamzin Boyce is speedy and a good finisher, while Bella Gullatta is an outstanding kicker. Like SNU, Wheeling can also win the battle up front.
So this is a completely different profile of the finalists. These are growing and up-and-coming school-supported teams, and it's hard to see who can catch them.
NCR Women D1 Final: Wheeling vs Southern Nazarene, Houston, Texas Dec 7, 2024 6PM. Live Stream on The Rugby Network>>
Southern Nazarene
Record 9-2; losses to BYU (38-19) and Lindenwood (92-7)
Two wins were forfeits.
Average Points For in played wins: 81
Wheeling University
Record: 11-0
One win was a forfeit.
Average Points For in played wins: 57