Women’s Rugby Bested in NIRA Semifinal at Harvard

Saturday, November 16

Cambridge, MA

12:00 PM

Army West Point

Harvard

Women’s Rugby Bested in NIRA Semifinal at Harvard

November 16, 2024 | Women's Rugby

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Army West Point Women's Rugby concluded their 2024-25 campaign Saturday afternoon with their NIRA semifinal matchup. The #3 Black Knights took on the #2 Harvard Crimson at Mignone Field in Cambridge, Mass. and despite the Black Knights getting on the board first, Harvard's aggressive offense pushed the Crimson to their 26-19 victory.

Chloe De Leon kicked things off for the Black Knights only five minutes into the action, slipping past the Crimson defense and notching the first try of the game in the corner of the try zone to put Army up 5-0.

Harvard struck back six minutes later, breaking through Army's line and completing the conversion to overtake the Black Knights for a 7-5 lead.

The two powerhouse defenses held each other in a stalemate for the next ten minutes but the Crimson would catch the next break, pushing into the try zone and sending the conversion through the posts to extend to a 14-5 lead.

Gabby Woenker kept the Black Knights in the game, finishing a full team push for the try zone with an all-out effort try just outside the posts, giving Alissa Eisenhart a clear line at completing the conversion to bring Army within two points of Harvard heading into the break.

Only three minutes back into the game, Eisenhart attempted a penalty kick that flew wide of the posts before Harvard extended their lead to 21-12 with another try and conversion.

The two squads engaged in another show of force between their defenses until the Crimson broke through Army's line with a try in the 72^nd minute of action, moving up to a 26-12 lead.

Cecilia Ollis carried out a try-line push for Army, pushing under the posts for a try with four minutes remaining on the clock, setting up Eisenhart for a straight line for the conversion to bring the game to a 26-19 differential.

Army was on a march back down the field after the clock hit 80 minutes when the Crimson intercepted an Army pass and promptly sent the ball in to touch and closed the curtains on Army's 2024-25 season.