Quinnipiac University
Central Washington
QU Rugby Hosts Central Washington on Friday in NIRA Semifinals
11/15/2017 5:56:00 PM | Women's Rugby
Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 | 10:00 AM | Quinnipiac Rugby Field, Hamden, Conn. | NIRA Championship Semifinal
Central Washington Wildcats (4-3-0, 2-1-0 NIRA) at Quinnipiac Bobcats (8-2-0, 6-2-0 NIRA)
All-Time Series vs. Central Washington (2-4)
Quinnipiac Rugby 2017 NIRA Championship Guide
The Quinnipiac rugby team's quest for its third consecutive National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Championship continues when the Bobcats host Central Washington to Hamden on Friday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. The game is the first of two national semifinals that comprise the NIRA Championship tournament hosted by Quinnipiac this season.
NIRA TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
In the second semifinal match, Dartmouth will face Harvard at 1 PM on Friday afternoon. The championship match will take place between the two winning teams on the Quinnipiac Rugby Field on Sunday, November 19 at 12 PM .
WATCH IT LIVE
The matches can be watched on therugbychannel.tv. Those with current subscriptions will be able to view the semifinals and finals along with other premium content featured on the platform. New members will need to sign up for an account.
SEASON RECAP
Quinnipiac enjoyed another extremely successful season in 2017, finishing the regular season with a 7-2 record and a 5-0 record at home.
- The Bobcats have now finished with winning records for six straight seasons and only five combined losses in the last three campaigns.
- Senior Ilona Maher (Burlington, Vermont) finished the season as the team leader in tries (18), highlighted by a four score outburst against AIC on October 28.
- Maher had 22 runs of 20 yards and four SAT's, both team highs.
- Senior Jessica Maricich (Lansing, Illinois) became the first ever player in program history to record 200 solo tackles. She accomplished the feat the team's quarterfinal win over Norwich.
- Maricich finished the regular season as the leader in assisted tackles (13).
- Senior Flora Poole (Christchurch, New Zealand) ended the regular season as the leader in assists (20) and solo tackles (58).
- The team finished with a 6-2 record in NIRA play, with wins over Central Washington, Norwich and season sweeps of Army and AIC.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats defeated Norwich in the NIRA quarterfinals by a score of 55-7.
- Jessica Maricich became the first ever player in program history to record 200 career tackles.
- Ilona Maher recorded two tries and assist in the match.
- Flora Poole tallied two tries and four assists.
- Sophomore Mikah Maples (Mowequa, Illinois) and senior Rebecca Haight (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) each scored tries.
- Senior Tayler Schussler (Westminster, Maryland) had two tries and one assist.
- Junior Emily Roskopf (Dublin, California) added a try and an assist.
- Freshman Destiny Henry (Athens, Tennessee) and senior Margaret Wesolowski (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) each added assists.
- Wesolowski finished with a 55% (5-for-9) conversion rate on the day.
- The victory marked Quinnipiac's third win over Norwich this season.
- The Bobcats outscored Norwich 107-14 in their last two meetings.
THE BOBCATS' LAST GAME AGAINST CENTRAL WASHINGTON
In their last meeting, the Quinnipiac women's rugby team came away with one of its biggest victories of the season today, defeating Central Washington by a score of 29-24 on Oct. 22, 2017.
- Junior Emily Roskopf had two tries in the match.
- Sophomore Mikah Maples (Mowequa, Illinois) scored the winning try for the Bobcats with 10 minutes to go in the second half.
- Senior Rebecca Haight (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) got past the goal line for a try after solid defensive pressure from Central Washington.
- Ilona Maher collected a try after breaking through coverage at the halfway line. Maher also had two assists.
- Flora Poole had three assists by the end of the match.
- Senior Margaret Wesolowski (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was 2-for-5 on conversion attempts.
- The win over Central Washington was Quinnipiac's first ever regular season victory over the Wildcats and its first win against them at home.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON NOTES
- The Wildcats finished the regular season with a 4-3-0 record and 2-1 record in NIRA play.
- The team is coming off a 43-0 victory over the Seattle Saracens.
- In its last match against Quinnipiac, Michel Navarro, Suiluana A'au, Ashley Rolsma and Kayla Postula tallied tries.
