West Chester Rugby Returns To Defend Its Title Sunday at West Point

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WEST POINT, NY – The Premier Leadership Development Institution in the Country is the backdrop for the 2021 National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Tier II Championship Game between West Chester University and American International College (AIC) Sunday at 3 p.m.
 
Tickets to the NIRA Championships will be sold ONLINE ONLY and in advance of the contest via the organization's web site, social media and on site via its QR Code. Online tickets can be purchased HERE. For those that cannot make it to the U.S. Military Academy this weekend, the championship will be streamed live by Knight Vision HERE. Barnaby's on High Street in West Chester will also be holding a West Chester Watch Party for both the field hockey and women's soccer squads on Sunday afternoon.

Along the banks of the Hudson River, West Chester looks for its second straight title. The Golden Rams went a perfect 11-0 in the fall of 2019 to capture the first NIRA Tier II national title, and Sunday they look to cap off another undefeated fall campaign with yet another Tier II national title.
 
West Chester enters Sunday's game 6-0 on the year, including an unblemished 3-0 mark in conference play. That earned the Purple & Gold a spot in the title game. AIC defeated Queen's University of Charlotte (NC) in the semifinals to set up a rematch of its Oct. 6 NIRA tilt at West Chester. The Golden Rams prevailed in that contest, 34-12.
 
A total of 15 players remain from that championship squad two years ago, including All-NIRA performers Autumn Czaplicki (Pillow, PA/Line Mountain) and Lauren Madalian (Randolph, NJ/Randolph), who was named the most outstanding player of the 2019 game. It is a striking nucleus of players that gives West Chester the slight edge heading into the contest. That, and the fact that WCU topped AIC earlier in the season, would suggest the Golden Rams are the favorite in this game.
 
However, AIC is a physical group that can wear down its opponents. The 34-12 score almost two months ago was not indicative of the type of match it turned out to be. The Yellow Jackets have talent throughout it's starting 15, and they got past a very good Queens (NC) squad to reach their first championship game.
 
The tandem of Julianna Aliprandi (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) and Olyvia Eckard (East Petersburg, PA/Hempfield) in the kicking game gives the Golden Rams more scoring opportunities while Madalian's consistent performances at fullback backbone the defensive effort.
 
During his 18-year college coaching career at the varsity level, head coach Tony DeRemer has guided West Chester University to one national championship, six conference championships and eight appearances in the USA Rugby Tournament. He has guided his charges to their respective conference title game in 13 out of 17 years, including this weekend.