Harvard Women's Rugby Demolishes Dartmouth 45-10, Punches Ticket To NIRA National Championship Game

Mignone Field was the backdrop for the second meeting of Harvard and Dartmouth this season, as rival fans adorned in Crimson and Green watched on. Looking to replicate its 36-33 regular season victory against the Big Green, the Crimson succeeded in its pursuit of another national championship.

The game began much like historic meetings between the two; each team determined to break the other down, but both sides’ intelligent and compact defense denied the other. This deadlock remained until almost halfway through the first half.

Dartmouth put points on the board first, with a penalty kick easily converted to go up 3-0. At the 18th minute, Harvard was able to take its first lead of the game. Freshman Sana’a Lunon accelerated at defenders on the wing and drew them in with an electric move, before offloading to junior Maya Hilger to sprint through and score the opening try.

The game began to flow late in the half with both teams delivering promising attacks. The Big Green leapfrogged the Crimson to retake the lead with its first try of the game, but Harvard responded quickly.

Freshman Sophie Hayes wriggled through Dartmouth defenders to secure the second try of the afternoon for the Crimson. Building on this lead, junior Courtney Taylor executed the final drive over the line on a quick play that came from a patient team attack.

These two late tries gave Harvard an inch of breathing room over its rivals, ending the half ahead 19-10.

From the first whistle of the second half, fans could sense an inspired Crimson squad, from the bench to across the field. The team began the half lively, picking up where they left off, applying constant threatening pressure to the Big Green defense.

“More than anything I think the words of one of our captains Charlotte Gilmour that personally inspired me, and I think others felt the same. She said that while we were up, we weren’t playing to our standard of rugby and I think we all felt like we had more to give,” standout freshman Gemma Ogoke said.

Ogoke capitalized on this pressure, powering across the try line to secure her first try of the game. She escaped the grasp of multiple Dartmouth defenders, demonstrating strength and resilience as Harvard extended their lead 24-10.

The Crimson continued to be patient, waiting for an opportunity to strike through the Big Green. It next came when three quick passes got the ball wide to senior Cameron Fields on the halfway line. Fields flew down the length of the field for one of her signature tries, highlighting her explosivity that has blitzed college defenses for the past four years.

The scoring continued, with a scramble on the line from Gilmour that allowed Ogoke to seal her second try of the day, getting the ball and pouncing between the posts.

“Scoring a try is always amazing but I was honestly happier to contribute to getting one more week with everyone, especially the seniors.” Ogoke said. “While I was the one who got to put 10 points on the board, none of it would have been possible without how hard everyone was working to open those gaps and create opportunities.”

Harvard closed out a near-perfect second half with junior Neasa McLaughlin delivering the final punch, diving into the try zone surrounded by defeated defenders. The relentless offensive effort did not allow Dartmouth any hopes of a place in the final, or even a single point.

The Crimson will enter their final game of the season in high spirits as they look to complete its undefeated season on Mignone Field next Saturday, November 22nd. The team will face Lindenwood as it hopes to lift the NIRA national championship.

– Staff writer Rhiannon Stewart can be reached at rhiannon.stewart@thecrimson.com