Rugby Heads to Penn State for Season Opener

Nyah Cordero ’24

8/30/2023 3:20:00 PM | Women's Rugby

Dartmouth enters the season riding an 18-match winning streak

By: Kyle Relf

MATCH 1
Dartmouth (0-0) at Penn State (0-0)
Date: Friday, Sept. 1 | 7 p.m.
Location: State College, Pa. | West Campus IM Field 2
All-Time Series: First meeting

LAST YEAR'S ACCOLADES
Dartmouth enjoyed a second straight undefeated season in 2022, capped by its third NIRA title in four seasons (2018, 2021, 2022), and landed a program-best eight on the All-NIRA First XV. Ariana Ramsey and Kristin Bitter were both nominees for the MA Sorensen Award, which honors the top women's collegiate rugby player in the nation, and Bitter was eventually named one of five finalists for the prestigious honor. Had she won it, she would have joined current volunteer assistant coach Emily Henrich (2018) and Idia Ihensekhien (2021) as the Big Green's third recipient.

BIG SHOES TO FILL
In 2023, Dartmouth moves forward having lost some of the program's premier players to graduation. Ariana Ramsey led the team with 11 tries in just five matches and Kristin Bitter, who handled kicking duties for most of the season, racked up a team-high 99 points. Those were just two of the five All-NIRA members who have since graduated – Sophie Ragg, Lauren Ferridge and Sophia Haley were also multi-faceted stars the Big Green will miss.

KEY RETURNERS
Nyah Cordero, Asiaeata Meni and Jordan Duncan were All-NIRA performers last season and headline a list of promising returners. Josie Harrison ranked fourth on the team last season with 25 points (five tries) and Anjali Pant was right behind her with 24 (four tries and two conversions). Nicole Ihensekien also scored four tries and appears to be another offensive threat. Katelyn Walker, a freshman at the time, had the game-tying score at Harvard with seconds remaining to help keep the undefeated streak alive. Sadie Schier has been a fixture in the Dartmouth lineup and is another exciting returner.

CAPTAINS
Nicole Ihensekhien, Nyah Cordero and Sadie Schier will serve as captains throughout 2023-24. Lauren Ferridge, Ariana Ramsey and Sophie Ragg handled leadership duties last season.

NEWCOMERS
Paola Arredondo-Almeida, AdiLeilah Bulabalavu, Arabella Cassidy, Katie Hansen, Jordis Lomu, Hehea Pulotu and Cindy Taulava make up the Big Green's seven-member freshman class. Dartmouth has also added a couple new faces to the coaching staff since the 2022 15s season. Lisa Jackson joined in February 2023 prior to the start of the 7s season and Emily Henrich, who was on the roster as a fifth-year senior a season ago, recently became a volunteer assistant coach.

DATES TO CIRCLE
Dartmouth opens NIRA competition on Saturday, Sept. 9 when it travels to Army West Point, who battled in a closely contested 24-15 decision at Brophy Field in 2022 – a rematch of the 2021 NIRA final. All eyes will be on Hanover when the Big Green host rival Harvard on Saturday, Oct. 21, meeting the Crimson for the first time since they battled for the 2022 NIRA crown.