Category: Midwest D-2

Wisconsin Spring 2016 Schedule Set

The Wisconsin Women’s Rugby spring 2016 schedule is set and quickly approaching.

Visit our Schedule page for the latest updates and match details.

The team has one final Midwest league match on April 16 on the road against the Milwaukee Scylla before Midwest playoffs begin. After an undefeated fall league season, Wisconsin is in first place at the top of the Midwest D2 West 2 league standings.

Prior to the Scylla, the team will warm up with a friendly scrimmage against the UW-Madison Women on April 2 in Madison and away at the Minnesota Valkyries (D1 friendly) on April 9.

The team is also excited to host the brand new Fond du Lac women’s team for a friendly b-side match on April 23 at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex.

Playoffs begin April 30 and full details for Midwest playoffs will be shared once they are available. All competitions in playoffs are single-elimination events.

Wisconsin Tops Midwest League Standings with Undefeated Fall

The Wisconsin Women’s Rugby team completed a successful Fall 2015 regular season in the Midwest Division 2 league.

Competing in the West 2 quarter of the Midwest region, Wisconsin played nine matches overall this season. Seven of the nine matches were in the West 2 league and Wisconsin won all seven of these matches to place first overall with an undefeated record.

Additionally, Wisconsin earned its fifth-consecutive qualification to the Midwest playoffs (2011, 2012, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016), and a 13-point super league lead on all other West 2 teams in the standings. Runner-up Milwaukee Scylla is 13 points behind Wisconsin in the standings. It’s a great start for the spring playoff season for the USA Rugby 2015 Division 2 National Champions.

Wisconsin also played two Division 1 teams this fall. They defeated the Chicago Women 48-10 to kick off the fall season at the WWRFC 40th Anniversary Weekend in August. The team also played perennial Division 1 national contender Chicago North Shore in October, but suffered a 65-5 loss.

Here are the match recaps from our 2015 fall season:

Undefeated Wisconsin Earns 7th Win Against Menagerie

The final rugby weekend of the fall saw Wisconsin travel again to Minnesota for the team’s last match of the season.

It was a tale of two halves against the Minneapolis Menagerie, but Wisconsin used a strong second half to rally for a 26-17 win.

The Menagerie disrupted Wisconsin’s gameplay throughout most of the first half. Wisconsin failed to put points on the scoreboard until the 33rd minute as the Menagerie held a 10-0 lead, thanks to a penalyy kick, a try, and the ensuing conversion. Wisconsin’s offense finally broke through the Menagerie defense to send inside center Bree Valenza into the try zone. Flyhalf Elisa Becker successfully converted the kick.

Minneapolis rallied in the final minute of the half again to increase their lead to 17-7 with another try and conversion though.

A renewed and reinvigorated Wisconsin team returned to the pitch for the second half. The statistics would only see Wisconsin from that point forward.

Wisconsin No. 8 Grace Hovde and wing Felicia Carlson both scored to help their team. Becker’s successful conversions allowed Wisconsin to finally take control of the match lead by the 53rd minute, 19-17.

Wing Justine Wypych sunk the final nail in the coffin for any hopes of the Menagerie. The speedster scored Wisconsin’s final try at the 70-minute mark and Becker notched a final conversion for the 26-17 victory.

Wisconsin ends the season with seven wins and zero losses in Division 2 league play after this fall. The team now takes the winter off for training before returning to league play with a final match in April against the Milwaukee Scylla. With the team record, Wisconsin is first overall in the Midwest West 2 league and has qualified for playoffs.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

Wisconsin Holds Off Amazon Attack 13-11

Wisconsin flyhalf Elisa Becker charges through the Amazon defense. Photo by Patrick Barron. View photo album here.

A cold, rainy Halloween afternoon in Minnesota saw Wisconsin hold on to a narrow 13-11 road victory against Midwest Division 2 league opponents, the Twin Cities Amazons.

Both teams played with full rosters and the weather pushed the ball into the forwards more often than not.

Each team defended its try zone well, only allowing the opposition to score on penalty kicks. Tied at 3-3, the match didn’t see a try until the 28th minute of play when Amazons flanker Emilee Burkhalter scored to take a 8-3 lead. The Amazons improved their lead with an additional penalty kick to make it 11-3 heading into halftime.

Both teams used their subs well as the match progressed and it looked like the Amazons might be able to hold off the Wisconsin attack for the match.

Still down 11-3 heading into the final 20 minutes, Wisconsin pulled together its continuity and found a gap in the Amazon defense. Rookie outside center Bree Valenza sailed into the try zone for the team’s first try to improve the score to 11-8 at the 60-minute mark.

Fired up, Wisconsin only needed an additional two minutes to score again as feisty lock Sammy Clevenger notched the team’s much-needed second try and the lead, 13-11.

Wisconsin held off the Amazons for the next 18 minutes to win the match, improve to 6-0 in the league and maintain their undefeated Division 2 record this fall.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

Wisconsin Shuts Out Palmer at Home 65-0

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Wisconsin’s Felicia Carlson races down the sideline for a try against Palmer. Photo by Patrick Barron. See photo album here.

Wisconsin bounced back quickly from a tough loss last week. The home team shut out the visiting Palmer Women’s team 65-0 at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex on Saturday, October 24.

The win helped Wisconsin improve its undefeated Midwest Division 2 league record to 5-0 in the region, 6-1-0 overall against both Division 1 and Division 2 clubs.

Flanker Kris Peterson earned a hat trick of scores to lead Wisconsin with three tries against the Dragons. Wisconsin’s other tries were shared across the roster by backs and forwards alike.

WWRFC wing Justine Wypych, scrumhalf Jennifer “Sin Bin” Johnson, No. 8 Grace Hovde, flanker Lauren McCormack, fullback Ashley Shaw, lock Sammy Clevenger, prop Melissa “Helga” Pohleber, and wing Felicia Carlson all earned a try a piece in the victory.

Flyhalf Elisa Becker converted five kicks for an additional 10 points.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

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Sybil Levine

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Wisconsin Falls 65-5 in D1-D2 Crossover Against Chicago North Shore

Chicago North ShoreThe Midwest women’s rugby leagues added a new feature this fall season with officially-scheduled, but friendly, divisional crossover matches between the top Division 1 and Division 2 clubs.

Wisconsin hosted D-1 national contender Chicago North Shore and earned the club’s first loss of the fall season. Falling 65-5, the match provided Wisconsin with an opportunity to play several developmental athletes and experiment with new combinations.

Wing Justine Wypych scored the team’s lone try at the 75-minute mark to avert the impending shutout. Chicago North Shore’s No. 8 Christine Pheil and fullback Lauren Trout led the visiting team in scoring.

The loss has no bearing on Wisconsin’s standings in the Midwest Division 2 league. However, it did provide the team with much-needed playing time for newer players and a renewed focus on the remainder of the D2 season.

Following the competitive match, both teams joined forces with the new Rockford (Illinois) women’s team to play a friendly b-side match.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

WWRFC Assails Amazons 55-12

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Back home at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex, the Wisconsin Women shut down the visiting Twin Cities Amazons 55-12 to improve to 4-0 in Midwest Division 2 league play.

The Amazons, the D2 side of the USA Rugby Women’s Premier League (WPL) top team of the same name, always bring a tough and talented roster. Despite traveling with only one side, the league match proved to be very physical.

Wisconsin flanker Kris Peterson helped the team jump out to an early lead with a try at the one-minute mark. Wisconsin’s backs then took charge with tries scored by wing Felicia Carlson, wing Justine Wypych (2), and outside center Katie “KO” Odens.

Held out of the try zone throughout the first half, Amazon lock Xanthi Gerasimo broke the shutout with a try for the orange and blue in the 32nd minute. Amazon flyhalf Ariana Koras made the conversion for a halftime score of 26-7.

Wisconsin limited its subs at the half and came out firing again to start the second half. Forwards captain and hooker Emily “Mouth” Mastandrea earned a try for the pack in the 46th minute.

Peterson sealed the match with two more tries to earn a hat trick for the day and Carlson ended scoring with a final try at the 65-minute mark. Flyhalf Elisa Becker converted five of nine kicks to put 10 additional points on the board for Wisconsin.

The Amazons never quit the match however. Gerasimo scored a second try in the final minute to wrap up the match at 55-12.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

Wisconsin Earns 69-14 Road Win at Palmer

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Wisconsin scrum versus Palmer Women. Photo by Patrick Barron.

The season’s first away match proved to be no problem for the Wisconsin Women’s Rugby team as they earned a 69-14 victory in Iowa against the Palmer Women.

The win improves Wisconsin to 3-0 in the Midwest Division 2 league standings.

The lopsided score saw Wisconsin score 12 tries, predominantly with wide-out play by the team’s backs. WWRFC wing Sybil Levine opened up scoring at the one-minute mark. Additional tries followed by fullback Ashley Shaw, outside center Justine Wypych, and opposite wing Felicia Carlson. Levine, Wypych, and Carlson later each earned a second try a piece.

Forward flanker Kris Peterson and No. 8 Grace Hovde also contributed to the scoreboard, with one try and two tries respectively.

Palmer’s roster challenged Wisconsin in fitness and defensive attack which slowed down the visiting team’s scoring opportunities later in the match as Wisconsin also started subbing across the roster. Palmer ended Wisconsin’s hopes for a shutout with two tries in the closing minutes by Helga Thorolfsdottir and Callie Horstman.

Wisconsin ended the match with a final try by prop-turned-wing Melissa “Helga” Pohleber, playing in the backline due to injuries to teammates.

Wisconsin flyhalf Elisa Becker added three successful conversions to the scoreline overall.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

Wisconsin Rallies for 49-20 Win Against Scylla

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Rookie and veteran teammates enjoying the post-match social together at Wilson’s Bar & Grill.

Despite several new faces on the roster, the Wisconsin Women’s Rugby team continued to prove that it won’t be resting on its laurels this fall.

Wisconsin welcomed in-state rivals, the Milwaukee Scylla, to the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex in Cottage Grove on Saturday, September 19. The match marked the second Midwest Division 2 Women’s league match of the fall for the home team.

Matches versus the Scylla are always bruising and this was no different as Milwaukee opened up scoring first. Scrums and physicality in the forwards was expected, but Wisconsin also had to shut down the Scylla’s larger size in the backline as well. The scoring remained tight with only a 14-12 advantage for Wisconsin heading into the halftime with tries scored by No. 8 Grace Hovde and speedy wing Felicia Carlson. Former hooker and now flyhalf Elisa Becker took care of business with two perfect conversions to keep the home-field advantage.

The second half saw Wisconsin’s speed and superior fitness take its toll on the Scylla however. The women in red used their continuity and aggressive play on the fringe to retain the ball and notch tries for flanker Kris Peterson, outside center Katie Odens, prop Melissa Pohleber, Carlson, and fullback Ashley Shaw. Becker was faultless off the tee with her conversions, going seven for seven on the match to bring the final scoreline to 49-20. The win improves Wisconsin to 2-0 overall in Midwest league play.

View the official USA Rugby match report here.

View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.

In a second developmental match between the two teams, Wisconsin and the Scylla played to a scoreless tie.

Wisconsin Kicks Off 2015 Fall Season with 67-3 Victory Against Menagerie

The Wisconsin Women kicked off their fall season at home with a win against the Minneapolis Menagerie on September 12 at 11 a.m. Conditions were an optimal sunny 63 degrees with little to no wind.

For their first league match, the team showcased this year’s round of new players and some changes in the lineup. Former hooker for the club, Elisa Becker, made her debut as flyhalf while Cori Jensen filled former Forwards Captain Jessica Burda’s boots as loose head prop with Burda sliding into an assistant coaching position for WWRFC.

This year, Wisconsin will see a younger team on the field as they defend their USA Rugby national title.

Grace Hovde (No. 8) and Melissa “Helga” Polheber (tighthead prop) excelled as key factors in contact and Katie “KO” Odens (outside center) easily found holes in the Menagerie defense. Kris Peterson (strongside flanker) aggressively took on each lineout, forcing Minneapolis’ hand at times.

Wisconsin scored its first try of the match only three minutes in after wing Justine “JT” Wypych beat the opposition on the corner. Blindside flanker, Lauren McCormack, touched the ball down after multiple scrums and picks (13’). The Menagerie earned their first and last points of the game with a penalty kick by Alexia Berg.

Peterson (27’), Odens (32’) and wing Sybil Levine (38’) each scored a try before halftime with Becker making three of her five kicks.

SCORE AT HALF: 31—3

Emi Frerichs came on for McCormack at half and Wypych scored her second try (50’) of the day after burning Menagerie’s defense on the outside and cutting back in. Odens set up Hovde for a sideline try (55’) then was subbed for rookie Callie Graves. Sammy Clevenger came on for Hovde and rookie Felicia Carlson subbed for Wypych just after she scored her first hat trick of the season (61’).

Jensen and Peterson subbed off with rookie Kim Gilmore and Alayna Hronek eager for some playing time. Becker stripped the ball nicely from the Menagerie and passed it out to speedy Levine who got her second try of the match 67 minutes in.

At the 70-minute mark, Forwards Captain Emily “Mouth” Mastandrea subbed off for rookie Anna Kalinsky, while Polheber was swapped for Emma Zoch. Carlson earned her first try ever after she used her incredible speed to touch the ball down (73’). Ashley Shaw, fullback, added her name to try scorers after she received a pass from Levine (78’).

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Players of the Match Brittany A., Bree V., and Rosie M., who finally received her 2014-2015 Team Heart Award. Missing: Katie O.

FINAL SCORE: 67—3
11 tries were scored by 8 different players and Becker made six of her 11 conversions.

View the official USA Rugby Match Report

View the official USA Rugby Match Rosters

POST-MATCH HONORS:
Odens was named Player of the Match by the Menagerie while WWRFC’s team honors went to Brittany Aprahamian as Forward of the Match, Odens for Back of the Match, and Bree Valenza as overall Player of the Match.

WWRFC Lineup:
1.    Cori Jensen
2.    Emily “Mouth” Mastandrea (C)
3.    Melissa “Helga” Polheber
4.    Brittany Aprahamian
5.    Sarah Thomas
6.    Lauren McCormack
7.    Kris Peterson
8.    Grace Hovde
9.    Jenn Johnson
10.    Elisa Becker
11.    Justine “JT” Wypych
12.    Bree Valenza
13.    Katie  “KO” Odens
14.    Sybil Levine
15.    Ashley Shaw
16.    Anna Kalinsky
17.    Emma Zoch
18.    Kim Gilmore
19.    Sammy Clevenger
20.    Emi Frerichs
21.    Alayna Hronek
22.    Felicia Carlson
23.    Callie Graves

Wisconsin takes on the Milwaukee Syclla on September 19 at the Wisconsin Rugby Complex at 12 p.m. You can follow the game on twitter.com/WIWomensRugby for live updates.

We’re the Wisconsin Women’s team …

Written By: Lauren McCormack