Defense Lifts Northeastern to Repeat Title

Northeastern solidified its dominant position in collegiate women's rugby, successfully defending their Division I-AA National Championship title with a commanding 14-0 victory over Colorado State in Boyds, Md. The Huskies’ repeat glory was built on an impenetrable defense, which kept Colorado State scoreless in the final, alongside key offensive plays including Jolene Russo’s opening try and Emily Minkler’s decisive score. Their impressive run to the championship match saw them overcome Arizona State 19-7 in the semifinals, propelled by crucial tries from scrumhalf Sadie Kabrhel, center Mira Mahmoud, and back-to-back MVP Kourtney Bichotte-Dunner, who remarkably flew in post-graduation to rejoin her team. Colorado State earned their final berth with a hard-fought 17-7 Rocky Mountain Showdown win against Colorado, driven by two tries from wing Hunter McGowan; meanwhile, North Carolina's Ashtyn Kelly shone individually, leading all tournament scorers with an exceptional 7 tries, 6 conversions, and 47 total points, a testament to the exciting talent emerging in US collegiate rugby.