ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The CRAA Playoffs come to Annapolis on Saturday for two matches to determine who will play in the CRAA Championship on Dec. 3 in Charlotte, N.C. The Navy women's rugby team (5-4) battles Northeastern (5-0) at 3 p.m., the same team they knocked out of the playoffs in last year's semifinals matchup. Spectator parking is available in the lots on the north side of the Brigade Sports Complex, 64 Greenbury Point Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. Overflow parking is available in the open space on the west side of the facility. Alcohol consumption is prohibited at the Prusmack Rugby Complex and surrounding parking areas.
"The team is very focused for what will be a strong Northeastern squad. They move the ball well and gain a lot of ground in attack after first contact," said head coach
Murph McCarthy. "They are well coached and exploit mistakes. Our firsties are doing a great job leading this team on this playoff run."
Recap of Air Force Match
Navy's quarterfinals match of the CRAA Playoffs took them to Colorado Springs, Colo., for a matchup with service academy rival Air Force. Navy's defense dominated the match, holding Air Force to just three points for a 12-3 win.
Marissa Meyer provided Navy with a huge score just 2:00 into the match for Navy's fastest try score of the season. The match turned into a defensive battle after Meyer's quick score with no scoring occurring again until the 76th minute. Team captain
Eliza Herring delivered the dagger with a try, and
Nicole Deprey's conversion kick up Navy ahead 12-0. Air Force scored its only points on a penalty kick in the 80th minute to end the match and send Navy to the semifinals.
Meyer Makes it Four Straight
Marissa Meyer's contribution has been key to Navy's success in the second half of the season. Meyer scored only two tries in Navy's first five matches but has erupted for six in the past four. Meyer tied
Ana Olszewski for the longest try-scoring streak by a Mid this season and continued to add to her scoring lead. The sophomore leads Navy with eight tries and 40 total points on the year.
Strong Defense Continues to Help Mids Win
Navy's defense has been vital to its success throughout the season. Navy has surrendered 12 or fewer points in six matches and just 25 total points in its five wins. Navy allows just 18.77 points per match, but if you eliminate its two matches against Central Washington and Davenport, Navy has allowed just eight points per match.
Captains Keep Scoring
Navy captains
Eliza Herring and
Nicole Deprey have been two important players for Navy, both from a leadership and scoring perspective. Throughout the season, the two have been key in developing Navy's younger players who have never played rugby before coming to Annapolis and continuing the excellence standards expected for the team to win. Deprey is Navy's second-best scorer this season with 24 points on one try, five conversion kicks and three penalty kicks. Herring is fourth amongst Navy's scoring ranks with 19 points on three tries and two conversion kicks.
Scouting Northeastern
The Huskies went 5-0 in Rugby Northeast Conference play to win their conference and receive a bye in the CRAA Playoffs. Northeastern defeated Boston College, Boston University, Rhode Island, UMass and UConn to end the season undefeated. Their best win of the season was a 39-10 victory over UConn, who placed second in the Rugby Northeast with a 4-1 record and is also playing in the semifinals of the CRAA Playoffs. Navy aims to repeat the result of last year's semifinal match over Northeastern. The Mids defeated the Huskies 17-7 in Annapolis before going on to win the CRAA Championship.