Four DII Teams Reach Semifinals

The race for the women’s Division II National Championship has intensified, with Coastal Carolina, defending champions Coast Guard, Colorado Mesa, and Wisconsin - Eau Claire solidifying their spots in the semifinals. Top seed Coastal Carolina endured a challenging path, first narrowly defeating Arkansas 12-0, then overcoming New Hampshire in a 17-10 nailbiter to earn their Sunday morning slot against Coast Guard. The Bears punched their ticket with consecutive 17-7 victories over Texas - San Antonio and Bowling Green, notably seeing forwards Reagan Doyle and Anna Gredell each cross the try line twice. On the other side of the bracket, Colorado Mesa had a smooth start with a 20-0 win against South Florida before battling past 2023 champions Roger Williams 24-15 in a quarterfinal clash. They now face 2024 champions Eau Claire, who secured their spot with a 24-14 win over Syracuse and a gritty 7-0 shutout against Fairfield. Individually, New Hampshire's Elizabeth Breiby leads the tournament in tries and points, while Bowling Green's Taylor Westrick tops the conversions with four. These compelling matchups highlight the burgeoning talent in collegiate rugby and are crucial for the development of future stars and the overall growth of the sport across the US.