It took three years, but Roger Williams finally has its trophy. After second- and fourth-place finishes at the previous two championships, the Rhode Island team took home the women’s National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) title after back-to-back victories against UM Moorhead and Sacred Heart.

Three post-season newcomers joined the veteran in November’s final four, and Roger Williams leaned on its ample experience to see it through the semifinals. After outside center Jacqui Wyka put her side up 5-0, Moorhead took advantage of a Lady Hawks yellow card and sent scrumhalf Breanna Bucklin over for the tying points. Hooker Haley Foster slotted the conversion, and the Minnesota champ led 7-5.

The teams traded tries, and yellow cards. With 12 minutes to go, both sides were down to 14 players and tied at 17-all. But Roger Williams’ sin bin ended first, and the offender – No. 8 Sadia Crosby – made good on her absence with a game-sealing try, 22-17, and final’s berth.

Sacred Heart didn’t have it any easier on the other side of the bracket. Mount St. Mary’s put up two tries before the Tri-State champion rallied with 15 unanswered points in the first half.

In the second stanza, more try-trading between Mount St. Mary flyhalf Nikki Ciccarelli (her second) and Sacred Heart senior Colleen Semenick (her third) saw the eventual finalists leading 22-15 late in the game. Lock Rachel Mazza added some cushion with a final try and 27-15 win.

Both teams entered Sunday a little tender, and they matched each other in the first half of the final. The sides exchanged scores, with all three of Roger Williams’ tries coming from eventual MVP Crosby, while Sacred Heart sent center Lauryn Kostopoulos and Semenick over for scores. Lady Hawks inside center Evynne Gartner connected on one conversion for the 17-10 lead at the break.

But the second half was all Roger Williams, whose defense repelled a number of valiant attempts at the line. As the final quarter of the match unfurled, the Rhode Island side tapped its depth of fitness and ran up a 45-10 win.

“The grit and determination of their players, led by seniors Ally Dykes, Abbey Scro and Cass Friedman, under the tutelage of coach Tom Campbell was a joy to behold as they led their club to their first-ever National Championship,” NSCRO president Steve Cohen wrote. “All you have to do is look at the faces and body language of the team in the photo holding their prized trophy aloft. Have you ever seen a better photo capturing the happiness of accomplishment?

In the third place match, UM Moorhead defeated Mount St. Mary’s 31-5. See below for the full national brackets.