Southern Virginia won the 16-team Men’s Premier Cup qualifier at Old Blue 7s in New York. The Knights were one of four teams to sweep their pool, alongside St. Bonaventure, AIC and Kutztown. They beat the Golden Bears by a try in the semifinal, before besting the Bonnies in the final, 17-7.
The Men’s Premier Cup division at Fighting Irish 7s at Notre Dame featured 14 teams, with the hosts, Marian, Walsh and Wheeling winning their pools. In a pair of close semifinals, Walsh beat Notre Dame, 21-17, and Wheeling bested Marian, 19-10. The Cardinals ran away with the final, 33-12, to win their second qualifier of the spring. Since Wheeling had already qualified, the Cavaliers punched their ticket as runners-up.
The Men’s Division I-AA qualifier in South Bend saw Louisville and Northeastern sweep their pools, before the Cardinals downed Wyoming in one semifinal, 24-7, and the Huskies beat Western Michigan in the other, 21-14. In the final, Louisville was better by a conversion, winning, 19-17. With the Cards already qualified, Northeastern clinched a bid to the big dance.
Colorado State punched its ticket in Women’s Division I-AA, going 4-0 to win High Peaks 7s. The Rams beat Boise State and Wyoming in pool play, Utah State in the semifinals and Boise State again in the final.
In Women’s Division II, Fairfield qualified with a 5-0 championship run at Bonnies 7s. The Stags beat Adrian, Niagara, Norwich and Buffalo in pool play, and they downed also-undefeated Syracuse in the final.
Colorado Mesa also qualified in Women’s DII, going 4-0 to win Peach Town 7s in Palisade, CO. The Mavericks defeated Utah, Southern Utah and Utah Tech in pool play, winning the rematch against the Utes in the final.
Memphis hosted and won Bluff City 7s, earning a bid in Division II. The Tigers shutout Western Kentucky and DePaul in pool play, before besting SCRC rivals Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the semifinals and finals, respectively.
Albany also qualified in Men’s DII, winning the Liberty Conference qualifier. The Great Danes swept their pool, beating Norwich, Stony Brook, RIT and RPI, as did reigning XVs national champion Vermont, beating Drexel, Coast Guard, Marist and Oswego. The Great Danes beat the Catamounts in the final, 24-17.
Baldwin Wallace outscored opponents 126-37 to win Powerful Women on the Pitch 7s on home turf in Berea, OH. Molly Cancian scored 15 tries on the day, good for a hat-trick in all four wins, including six tries against Denison. The win makes the Yellow Jackets the fourth team to qualify in Women’s Division III.
Springfield topped the 18-team knockout field at the Men’s Division III qualifier at Niagara, Lt. Crowe 7s. The Pride won four-straight, knocking off Slippery Rock in the final, 26-22. New Mexico Tech also qualified in Men’s DIII, going undefeated to win NorCal 7s. The Miners defeated Montana in the final, 24-10.
Tune in this Friday to The College Rugby Show to learn more about the road to National 7s.
