WCU Women’s Rugby Team Wins Program’s First National Title with Win Over Ivy League Foe

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Images via West Chester University.

The West Chester University women’s rugby team capped a perfect season by coming from behind to defeat Brown University, 15-14, on Sunday in Boston to claim the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) Tier II National Championship for the first time in program history.

The Golden Rams found themselves down 14-0 at halftime on the campus of Harvard University in a match that was televised by ESPN+.

“At halftime, we talked about never being out of the game,” said WCU coach Tony DeRemer. “We were down several times this year.”

Six minutes into the second half, Coatesville High School graduate Corinne Gallagher scored the first try of the day for the Golden Rams, cutting Brown’s lead to 14-5.

WCU continued to chip away at Brown’s lead when, in the 62nd minute, senior co-captain Haley Spangler marched in for the team’s second try of the day, cutting its deficit to 14-10.

“After our second try, you could feel the confidence grow in the team,” DeRemer said, “and we started making big hits on defense and started getting better ball possession.”

In the 66th minute, sophomore Autumn Czaplicki broke away for what became the match-winning try. It was her 13th of the season, placing her in the Top 10 in program history with 25 tries in just two seasons.

“When we scored our third try,” DeRemer said, “we knew we could hold on to win. The girls really held off a strong and athletic Brown team.”

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