Big Green Ready to Host Quinnipiac for NIRA Semifinal

MATCH 8 • NIRA SEMIFINAL
Dartmouth (5-2, 4-1 NIRA) vs. Quinnipiac (5-2, 4-1 NIRA)
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 11 | 12 p.m.
Location: Hanover, N.H. | Brophy Field
All-Time Series: 7-4
Last Meeting: Sept. 23, 2023 (W, 47-0)

PLAYOFF PICTURE
Like last season, Harvard and Dartmouth represent the top two seeds. The Crimson secured the top spot thanks in part to a signature victory in Hanover on Oct. 21, and the Big Green could've been either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, but dominated Princeton in historic proportion to seal the second spot. The 115-7 win also had implications on other teams' playoff positions - Quinnipiac was able to jump Sacred Heart for the No. 3 seed thanks to a fortuitous boost to its power rating. The Pioneers settled for the No. 4 seed and will head to Harvard, where the NIRA Final will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18.

FAMILIAR FOES
Not only is this the second meeting between Dartmouth and Quinnipiac this season, the two sides also met twice last season. Both seasons have followed a pattern of a Big Green home-opening tilt in September, followed by a semifinal meeting in November. Dartmouth has won each of the last six over Quinnipiac and is 7-4 in the all-time series, which includes a loss in the 2017 NIRA Championship.

PROGRAM HISTORY ON SATURDAY
The 115-7 win over Princeton marked the highest point total for the Big Green since gaining varsity status in 2015. It's the second time Dartmouth has surpassed 100 points in a match, with Columbia being on the wrong end of the other instance (110-0) on Sept. 24, 2016. That thrashing of the Lions is still Dartmouth's largest margin of victory in its nine-year varsity history.

COUPLE OF HAT TRICKS
Two of 14 different players to find the try zone against Princeton, Sadie Schier and Cassie Depner led the way with three each. Depner doubled her career try total in that game alone and was named the DartmouthSports.com Female Athlete of the Week.

RECENT MEETINGS
Katelyn Walker and Asialeata Meni were key performers with two tries apiece in a 47-10 win, which served as Dartmouth's home opener. In last year's semifinal matchup, Nicole Ihensekhien, Sadie Schier and Simone Bautista each scored in a 47-14 victory. Dartmouth has scored at least 40 points in every meeting during its six-match winning streak.

A LOOK AT THE OTHER SEMIFINAL
Harvard, coming off its first undefeated regular season in program history is hosting Sacred Heart, who came up one match short (a loss to Quinnipiac on Sept. 30) of accomplishing the same feat, finishing the season at 5-1. Despite the loss, it's still the Pioneers' best record in program history. Harvard and Sacred Heart have only met twice before, and the Crimson won the most recent matchup 53-0 in 2021.

Schedules