The Wayne State College women’s rugby team are in the semifinals of the National Small College Rugby Organization national championships after a 4-0 day in action Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
The Wildcats earned the top seed for the eight-team elimination tournament by going 3-0 in pool play, beating California University of Pennsylvania (35-5), Usinus (27-5) and Endicott College (26-10).
In Saturday’s quarterfinals, the Wildcats beat Ursinus 30-7, taking advantage of some key turnovers to build a 15-0 halftime lead on their way to the win.
Sam Warneke got the Wildcats on the board in the first half with a score, and Jasmine Kovacs took advantage of a Ursinus miscue with a second score moments later to make it 10-0.
Late in the first half, a Ursinus knock-on penalty was converted into a try by Faith Sorensen, who took a pass from Shelby Brown and slipped a defender for the score to make it 15-0 at intermission.
In the second half, Brown put the Wildcats in control with an early score, and Alex Heely and Turner McFee scored later in the period to help move the Wildcats into Sunday’s semifinals.
Wayne State will play in the semifinals on Sunday at 8:40 a.m against Lee (Tenn.) University. The winner will face either Colorado College or Endicott University in the finals at 11:20 a.m.
