The first-ever Women’s Division I-AA national quarterfinals kick off Friday at two regional sites across the country. The semifinals are contested Sunday, with the winners punching their tickets to the national championship game Dec. 7 in Houston, TX.

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In Obetz, OH, South Atlantic champion Virginia takes on Big Ten runner-up Purdue in one quarterfinal at 12 p.m. ET, and undefeated Big Ten champion Notre Dame takes on undefeated North Atlantic champion Northeastern in the other at 2 p.m. The winners advance to Sunday’s semifinal at 10:45 a.m. ET.

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In Springfield, MO, Midwest champion Northern Iowa faces Lone Star champion Texas at 12 p.m. CT Friday, and South Atlantic runner-up Lander and High Peaks champion Colorado meet at 2 p.m. Winners advance to Sunday’s semifinal at 10:00 a.m.

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With four of the five top-ranked teams in the country headed for suburban Columbus this weekend, Ohio is the pool of death, highlighted by No. 1 Notre Dame and fourth-ranked Northeastern meeting in the opening round. 

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The Irish are led by All-Americans Megan Tremblay, Mia Blocher and Isabel Henderson, while the Huskies are headlined by All-Americans Molly McAlevey and Kourtney Bichotte-Dunner. The Huskies eliminated the Big Ten champs in the DI opening round last fall, beating Michigan 32-26 in Obetz. 

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Second-ranked Virginia fell to Wheeling in last year’s DI quarterfinals, giving the juggernaut Cardinals their toughest contest en route to the national title. Virginia is fresh off another competitive contest with Wheeling, led by fullback Kate Delaney and prop Taylor Wreath, and are the favorites against the Boilermakers.  

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After opening the fall with a loss to DII powerhouse Eau Claire, Northern Iowa has been perfect, going undefeated in the Midwest Conference. Led by All-American fullback Morgan Linck, the third-ranked Panthers are eyeing a title run. Running up against them in the opening round are the fifth-ranked Longhorns, who lapped the competition in the Lone Star this fall, averaging more than 70 points a game.

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Lander (6-2) gave Virginia a competitive match in the SARC final, and with wins over Florida, Coastal Carolina and James Madison this fall, the Bearcats look like a tough out for Colorado in the opening round. The Buffs went undefeated against DI-AA High Peaks competition, with the lone blemish a loss to DIII powerhouse Colorado School of Mines. 

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All matches streamed live on the National Collegiate Rugby YouTube channel. For more rugby news, check out TheCollegeRugbyShow.com.

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