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WHEELING, WV – Through the first four games of the season, the Wheeling women's rugby team has been on a roll. They're 4-0 this season to start their inaugural 15-man season and are averaging 56.5 points per game. On Wednesday, the team made more history, earning a No. 5 ranking in the weekly National Collegiate Rugby Top 20 Coaches Poll.
The Cardinals hosted Penn State in their most closely fought game of the season. The game was deadlocked at 0-0 with neither team scoring for the first 28 minutes. Wheeling broke through in the 28th minute and the scoring began. The game traded hands in the second half with the Cardinals leading slightly 10-7 at halftime. However, after halftime, the Cardinals scored 29 points in the final 40 minutes. The Cardinals scored seven tries in the final 40 minutes and closed out the day with two penalty kicks. Penn State added another 10 points in the final 40 minutes, but the Cardinals held on to win the game 39-17.
Leading the way for the Cardinals this season is Bella Galatta who has scored four tries and has been the Cardinals' main kicker this season. She added a try and made 7 of 8 conversion kicks. She scored a total of 22 points in the match and has scored 20 or more points in 3 of the 4 matches she has played this season. She is also 1-2 in drop goals this season and scored her only drop goal of the season against Emory & Henry. Tamzin Boyce is the Cardinals' try leader this season with 4 tries in 4 matches this season. She is the 2nd multi-try scorer for the Cardinals this season, scoring twice against Emory & Henry and Penn State. She has used her combination of speed and power to score this season.
Topping the power rankings this week is the University of Michigan at No. 1. In second is the University of Northern Iowa, and in third is Southern Nazarene University. The rest of the NCR Top 20 Coaches Rankings are as follows:
Michigan looks to be hoping for a third-place pete. pic.twitter.com/mwFp6jCddq
— National College Rugby (@ncrrugby) September 24, 2024
The Wheeling University women's rugby team will return to action on Sunday, September 29th when they host Ohio University.
