Photo by: Nick Henthorn
The Wheeling women’s rugby team proudly displays their national championship trophy upon returning to Wheeling University on Sunday after a decisive win against Southern Nazarene in the 2024 NCR Women’s Rugby National Championship held in Houston.
WHEELING — With the establishment of the Wheeling University women’s rugby team in May, a legacy of strong rugby traditions was continued. Last Saturday, the Cardinals achieved an impressive milestone, concluding their historic inaugural season with a national championship title by defeating Southern Nazarene University 58-17.
Six players contributed to the scoring, culminating in a perfect season record of 12-0 for the Cardinals.
The team received a warm welcome back in Wheeling on Sunday at 2 p.m., greeted by friends, fans, and faculty with jubilation.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” head coach Ken Pape expressed on Sunday. “From the moment I pitched the idea to Wheeling back in May, their support has been tremendous. They followed through on everything we discussed, which was truly heartening. I assured the team that if we adhered to our plans, we would have a shot at a national championship. It’s a tough promise to make in your first year, but as the season progressed, our belief grew. Coming home escorted by police and embraced by fans and fellow students—what else can I say? It’s just a fantastic feeling.”
The Wheeling offense consistently dominated throughout the season, averaging 54.4 points per game. This offensive prowess was on full display again during the championship match. The scoring began with a penalty kick from Bella Gullatta, who successfully kicked the ball through the uprights for an early 3-0 lead, setting the stage for the ensuing tries.
Seven minutes into the match, captain Alexis Dallas skillfully maneuvered through four defenders to score Wheeling’s first try. Gullatta’s conversion kick extended the lead to 10-0 just ten minutes into the game.
The defenses were stalwart for a brief period until Wheeling drew another penalty from five meters out. Following a restart, Joelle Taylor managed to barrel through to score, bringing the score to 15-0 after a missed conversion. The momentum continued as Abbi Siller passed to Liz Sinatra, who relayed the ball to Alli Davis to touch down, followed by Gullatta converting to a 24-0 lead.
Both teams entered the locker rooms at halftime with Wheeling ahead 24-12, eager to extend their lead.
Nine minutes into the second half, Wheeling’s defense created another opportunity by forcing a turnover. Tocarra Nelson swiftly passed to Tamzin Boyce, who raced down the sidelines to score. Gullatta’s conversion then brought the score to 31-12, and Wheeling’s offense sealed the victory with four additional tries in the following minutes.
“They played incredibly,” Pape reflected. “Our mantra during the game was to ‘bully the bully,’ as Southern Nazarene had been dominating teams. We stepped up and showed our strength. I couldn’t be prouder of the team; they make coaching a blessing.”
Bella Gullatta led the Cardinals with 18 points, capping off her performance with a try in the 75th minute. She went 5-8 on conversions and successfully executed a penalty kick. Tamzin Boyce and Jemmley Rivera each scored twice, with Rivera achieving her first career multi-try game, while Boyce marked her third. Additional tries were scored by Alexis Dallas, Joelle Taylor, and Alli Davis, each securing a five-point contribution, with Marissa Hudson rounding out the scoring with a penalty kick for three points.
“Coaching motivated individuals is effortless,” Pape noted. “When the pressure arose during the game, we remembered not just to play for ourselves, but for our administrators, the university, our families, and, importantly, for each other.”
