Rugby Set to Host Homecoming Showdown With Harvard

Celebratio women's rugby action versus Lindenwood

Photo by: Kyle Relf

Rugby Set to Host Homecoming Showdown With Harvard

10/20/2023 1:41:00 PM | Women's Rugby

The Big Green and Crimson meet for the first time since the 2022 NIRA final

By: Kyle Relf

MATCH 5
Dartmouth (3-1, 3-0 NIRA) vs. Harvard (6-0, 6-0 NIRA)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21 | 11 a.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H. | Brophy Field
All-Time Series: 12-3
Last Meeting: Nov. 19, 2022 (W, 15-10)

HOMECOMING, SENIOR DAY AND A RIVALRY REIGNITED
It's a big Saturday at Brophy Field as rival Harvard visits on homecoming for a rematch of the 2022 NIRA final, which the Big Green won at Burnham Field, 15-10. Dartmouth is looking to pick up where it left off last year against Harvard, having won in comeback fashion during the 2022 regular season before emerging victorious from the defensive battle that was the championship.

LINDENWOOD PRESENTED A CHALLENGE
The Big Green are no longer undefeated after losing 30-15 to Lindenwood in its most recent match, but that won't count against them in the NIRA standings and the pursuit of a third consecutive title. Asiealeata Meni, Katelyn Walker and Paola Arredondo Almeida each scored against the perennial CRAA power, and neither side was able to come up with a conversion.

LAST YEAR'S THRILLER IN CAMBRIDGE
Dartmouth and Harvard squared off in what can only be considered the game of the year around the NIRA in the 2022 regular season. Trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, Dartmouth stormed back to tie the match as Katelyn Walker, a freshman at the time, had the clutch try with only seconds remaining. Eventual MA Sorensen Award finalist Kristin Bitter nailed the game-winning conversion with zeroes on the clock. Josie Harrison made a big play in that one too, intercepting a Crimson offload and taking it to the try zone late in the match to make it a one-score game.

11 OF THE ALL-NIRA FIRST XV
Look no further than the 2022 All-NIRA honorees for evidence of the talent displayed on the pitch when Dartmouth and Harvard meet. The two teams combined for 11 of the 15 first teamers. The Big Green made up a majority of that list by themselves with eight, but the Crimson had another three as honorable mentions in addition to their trio of first team performers. Of those first teamers, current sophomore Cameron Fields is the only returner. Dartmouth returned three in Asialeata Meni, Jordan Duncan and Nyah Cordero.

SCORING BREAKDOWN
Asialeata Meni leads the Big Green with six tries on the season. Katelyn Walker isn't far behind with five, while Simone Bautista and Nicole Ihensekhien follow with four apiece. Abby Kayser has nine conversions and Abbey Savin has seven.

DOMINATION EN ROUTE TO 6-0
Harvard has won its first six games by an average of more than 49 points. The closest match the Crimson have played so far was at home against Brown, a 48-14 final on Sept. 30. Dartmouth and Harvard have fared similarly against common opponents with blowout wins over Quinnipiac and Army West Point.

THANK YOU, SENIORS!
Dartmouth will honor nine seniors following Saturday's match. Many of those individuals have helped the Big Green win NIRA championships in every season of action and look to make it a clean sweep this November.

TWO MORE ON THE ROAD BEFORE POSTSEASON
Dartmouth travels to Brown on Sunday, Oct. 29 and then to Princeton (a rescheduled date) on Saturday, Nov. 4.