Buffs, Huskies Advance to DI-AA Final

The inaugural Women’s DI-AA national championship final is officially set, promising an exhilarating showdown in Houston as the Northeastern Huskies and Colorado Buffaloes prepare to clash for collegiate rugby history. Both teams secured their spots with commanding semifinal victories on Sunday: Northeastern triumphed over Virginia 38-24, while Colorado avenged a previous first-round loss by defeating Northern Iowa 34-14. Northeastern's path to the final saw them establish an early lead against Virginia, going up 21-7 by halftime. Mira Mahmoud crossed the try line twice, and center Sydney Joslin led the Huskies in points with a try and four crucial conversions, even as Virginia's Hannah Tittermary put up a valiant effort with three tries. On the other side of the bracket, five different Buffaloes scored against Northern Iowa. Colorado’s No. 8 Lucia Hoffman was a dominant force, carrying aggressively for 80 minutes, supported by scrumhalf Dani Michaels’ defensive and offensive leadership. Northern Iowa fullback Macie Gravies delivered clutch try-saving tackles and scored once, but four sin bins hampered their efforts. The stage is now perfectly set for Northeastern and Colorado to meet on Sunday, December 7th, at 2:30 p.m. in Houston, TX, to crown the first-ever Women’s DI-AA national champion, a significant moment for the growth and recognition of women's collegiate rugby in the US.