Dartmouth Ready to Battle Harvard in NIRA Championship

NIRA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 Dartmouth (8-0) vs. No. 2 Harvard (6-2)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19 | 4:30 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H. | Burnham Field
All-Time Series: 11-4
Last Meeting: Oct. 15, 2022 (W, 31-29)

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SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
The lights of Dartmouth's Burnham Field provide the setting for the Division I NIRA Championship between the Big Green and the Crimson. Dartmouth is looking to repeat as the divisional champion having defeated Army West Point in the title match 364 days prior.

REMATCH OF OCTOBER'S THRILLER
Dartmouth and Harvard squared off in what can only be considered the game of the year around the NIRA. The Big Green trailed by as many as 16 in the second half and were in significant danger of losing their first match since 2019, but stormed back to win the game with Kristin Bitter's conversion following Katelyn Walker's game-tying try with seconds remaining. Lauren Ferridge's try started the comeback, Seven Sassano's helped the Big Green inch closer, then Josie Harrison's score off an interception fully flipped momentum. Walker's try in crunch time tied the match and the clock hit zeroes as Bitter put the game-winning conversion between the uprights.

MEMORIES OF CHAMPIONSHIPS PAST
2018 was Dartmouth's first NIRA championship and the Big Green were able to claim it on their own campus. The match, which pitted No. 1 Dartmouth against No. 2 Harvard (sound familiar?), was played at Scully-Fahey Field. Dartmouth won 19-14 and Ariana Ramsey, a freshman at the time, scored Dartmouth's first try.

Last year's title was won against Army West Point on the road. It was the program's first-ever night game and Dartmouth held on after taking control early to win 28-18. Eventual MA Sorensen Award winner Idia Ihensekhien scored two tries to lead the champs.

HOW THE BIG GREEN GOT HERE
Dartmouth downed Quinnipiac, 47-14, in the semifinal match last Saturday at Brophy Field. The Big Green scored early with Ava Procter's try and though the Bobcats were able to respond to tie the match, 7-7, the defending champions went on to score four straight tries (Simone Bautista, Lauren Ferridge, Ariana Ramsey and Sophie Ragg). Sadie Schier's blocked kick in the final seconds of the first half helped Dartmouth lead 40-14 at halftime. Nicole Ihensekhien's try in the opening minutes of the second half was the final score for either team.

HOW THE CRIMSON GOT HERE
No. 2 Harvard defeated No. 3 Army West Point, avenging a loss to the Black Knights in the final match of the regular season. Army West Point scored first, but it was all Harvard after that opening punch. Freshman speedster Cameron Fields scored two tries and looks to be the Crimson's most dangerous offensive weapon - she leads the team with 12 tries.

SCOUTING HARVARD
On their way to a 6-2 mark heading into the NIRA final, the Crimson averaged just over 51 points per match. Much of that is due to the play of speedy freshman Cameron Fields, whose sprints down the field are shades of Ariana Ramsey. The two losses (Dartmouth and Army West Point) were both only by two points. Harvard has several blowouts to its credit, including a 102-0 shellacking of Princeton and a 98-7 blowout at Mount St. Mary's.

RAMSEY'S REMARKABLE STORY
Ariana Ramsey's journey through collegiate rugby, which has included a pair of championships, has also featured injury and loss. She was recently the subject of a Dartmouth Athletics feature.

THE STREAK
Dartmouth has won 17 straight matches dating back to last season. The Big Green's last loss came on Nov. 9, 2019. By Saturday's match, that will have been 1,107 days ago.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Handwarmers will be given to the first 300 in attendance, quesadillas from Boloco for the first 500, and free hot chocolate will be available while supplies last.

Schedules