After losing in a national championship game for the first time in eight trips a year ago, the Wayne State women’s rugby team is back on top in both 15-on-15 and 7-on-7 play in the National Small College Rugby Organization.
The Wildcats dominated the field in the NSCRO 7’s championships this weekend, finishing Sunday morning with a 38-0 shutout over York (Pa.) College in the semifinals and a 24-5 win over Lee University (Tenn.) in the finals to claim their fourth 7-on-7 championship and eighth overall.
Wayne State’s defense was dominating throughout the knockout round after going 3-0 in pool play Saturday. They shut out Dennison College of Ohio in Saturday’s quarterfinals 44-0 to reach Sunday’s semifinals, and Lee scored their lone try in the closing seconds to avoid the shutout.
It marks the second time that the Wayne State women's rugby team has swept the NSCRO titles in a single school year. They won both titles in the 2013-2014 school year and were also simultaneous holders of both titles a third time after winning the 7's in spring of 2016 and the 15's later that fall. It is the fourth time in the five-year history of the NSCRO 7's competition that the Wildcats have won the national title.
Kelsey Stutzman and Leanna Rosberg were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Rosberg earning Tournament MVP honors.
