Completed Event: Women's Rugby at Lindenwood on October 18, 2025 , Loss , 5, to, 12
Final
Women's Rugby
at Lindenwood
5
12
Sunday, November 18
Hanover, N.H.
1:00 PM
Dartmouth College
19
vs
14
Harvard
Photo by: Doug Austin
Big Green Crowned NIRA National Champion Following Win over Harvard
11/18/2018 2:48:00 PM | Women's Rugby
HANOVER, N.H. – Dartmouth women's rugby won the NIRA National Championship on Sunday afternoon, defeating Harvard by a score of 19-14 at Scully-Fahey Field.
This is the Big Green's first NIRA championship title in program history.
Senior captain Camille Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the game.
"This was an incredible final from both teams and a great example of NCAA women's rugby at its best," head coach Katie Dowty said. "I'm extremely proud and grateful and so happy, especially for our seniors. They were the first class when we went varsity, and for them to see us get to number one following four years of really hard work is huge.
"I want to say thank you again to the Dartmouth athletics staff, especially the grounds crew," Dowty continued. "I don't know many other facilities that could have made this work with the weather, and them doing this for women's rugby was incredible."
After an early push that made it seem as if Harvard would score less than a minute in, it was Dartmouth that got on the board first. Having scored the first try in the semifinal match on Friday, it was only fitting that freshman Ariana Ramsey would break the scoreless tie in the 13th minute with her second try of her career (5-0).
A penalty kick for both teams about 10 minutes apart could have changed the course of the game, but both narrowly missed, and the Green remained slightly ahead with the first half winding down. With five minutes to go, Harvard almost tied things up, but a forward pass and a dropped ball kept the score the same.
Dartmouth increased its lead less than two minutes into the second half when Johnson evaded a handful of Harvard defenders, converting her own try to give the Big Green a 12-0 edge. Dartmouth did not stop there, getting further ahead when freshman Emily Henrich out-maneuvered three Crimson players to get another try on the board. A converted try for Harvard halfway through got the visitors back in the game (19-7).
A late penalty try got the Crimson within five points (19-14), but Dartmouth held on to its lead until the end.
This is the Big Green's first NIRA championship title in program history.
Senior captain Camille Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of the game.
"This was an incredible final from both teams and a great example of NCAA women's rugby at its best," head coach Katie Dowty said. "I'm extremely proud and grateful and so happy, especially for our seniors. They were the first class when we went varsity, and for them to see us get to number one following four years of really hard work is huge.
"I want to say thank you again to the Dartmouth athletics staff, especially the grounds crew," Dowty continued. "I don't know many other facilities that could have made this work with the weather, and them doing this for women's rugby was incredible."
After an early push that made it seem as if Harvard would score less than a minute in, it was Dartmouth that got on the board first. Having scored the first try in the semifinal match on Friday, it was only fitting that freshman Ariana Ramsey would break the scoreless tie in the 13th minute with her second try of her career (5-0).
A penalty kick for both teams about 10 minutes apart could have changed the course of the game, but both narrowly missed, and the Green remained slightly ahead with the first half winding down. With five minutes to go, Harvard almost tied things up, but a forward pass and a dropped ball kept the score the same.
Dartmouth increased its lead less than two minutes into the second half when Johnson evaded a handful of Harvard defenders, converting her own try to give the Big Green a 12-0 edge. Dartmouth did not stop there, getting further ahead when freshman Emily Henrich out-maneuvered three Crimson players to get another try on the board. A converted try for Harvard halfway through got the visitors back in the game (19-7).
A late penalty try got the Crimson within five points (19-14), but Dartmouth held on to its lead until the end.
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