ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's rugby team (4-4) begins its quest to defend its CRAA Fall Championship this Friday versus rival Air Force (4-1) in Colorado Springs, Colo. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. Mountain Time).
 
Recap of Queens Match
Navy ended the regular season back on Oct. 29, and fell in its regular season finale to Queens University of Charlotte 19-12 at the Prusmack Rugby Center. Queens put Navy in a 19-0 hole just 23 minutes into the first half, but Navy's defense didn't allow another score for the remainder of the contest. The Mids patient offensive attack paid off with its first score on a big run by Siena Hall in the 44th minute to make the score 19-5.
 
Navy's deficit remained at 12 for nearly another 30 minutes, but Marissa Meyer found the try zone in the 73rd minute. Eliza Herring then made a crucial conversion kick to get Navy back within seven with seven minutes remaining. After a turnover by the Royals, the Mids drove all the way across the pitch and found themselves meters away from the try zone with less than a minute remaining. Navy looked to have a game-tying score lined up, but a bad pass resulted in Navy being called for a knock-on penalty. The penalty gave the ball back to Queens, who immediately kicked it out of bounds to officially end the match.
 
Meyer Keeps Scoring
Marissa Meyer scored in her third straight match against Queens and has now scored five tries in her last three matches. Meyer's try against the Royals is her team-leading seventh try of the season. She now leads Navy with 35 points and is one of only three Mids to score at least 20 points this season. Meyer will look to score a try in her fourth straight match versus Air Force, which would tie Ana Olszewski for the most consecutive matches with a try scored this season.
 
Defend the Title
Navy looks for its second straight CRAA Fall Championship after claiming the title in December of 2021. Navy defeated UCONN 44-17 in the quarterfinals and Northeastern 17-7 in the semifinals to advance to the title match against Davenport. The Mids won the match 20-12 to claim their first title in head coach Murph McCarthy's tenure.
 
CRAA Playoff Format
Navy will compete in the quarterfinals versus Air Force as an independent team and a win would bring them back home to Annapolis for the semifinals against the winner of the Rugby Northeast Conference. A Navy victory in the semifinals would send them to the championship game in Charlotte, N.C. 
 
Scouting Air Force
Air Force enters the match 4-1 with its only loss coming to Utah State, who won the CRAA Rocky Mountain Conference with a 6-0 record. Air Force is back in the CRAA Playoffs for the first time since 2019 when they won their second straight CRAA Championship.