CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- For the first time since the 2021 season, the West Chester University women's rugby team (5-4) returned to action on Championship Saturday as the Golden Rams faced off against top-seed American International College (7-1) in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Division II Championship game at Harvard University. In the latest chapter in the rivalry between the Golden Rams and Yellow Jackets, who have been two of the top programs in Division II women's rugby in recent years, AIC got out to an early lead and rode this advantage to a 74-0 victory over the Golden Rams.
"While today did not end up the way we hoped it would be, we are very proud, inspired, and honored to be a part of the NIRA Championships again this year," said head coach
Tony DeRemer. " It's been four years since our last appearance so getting back this year is a great source of motivation for future seasons. It's great to face great teams like these and have moments that show not only how good you are but also where you can improve. Overall, it was a great weekend for our program despite a disappointing result on the scoreboard."
With the victory, AIC won its third Division II title since 2021 and its second consecutive after stunning Davenport in the Championship match last November.
The Yellow Jackets, who reached the Championship match with a 107-0 victory over Frostburg State in the semifinals last weekend, jumped out to a 45-0 lead in the first half with a late half surge before scoring 29 more points in the second half to become Champions once again.
West Chester nearly got on the scoreboard with a diving try by
Emma Davies in the second half, but the ball was deemed to be stripped by the AIC defender, so the try was disallowed.
West Chester has now played in the NIRA Division II Championship match three times since 2019, including the Championship that the Golden Rams won in 2019, and has also appeared in the semifinal round of the Championships in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
West Chester's 15s season came to a close on Saturday afternoon, and the Golden Rams will now begin preparing for the Spring 7s season, which will begin in early March.
