The Women’s Division I-AA national champion will be crowned Sunday at SaberCat Stadium in Houston, TX, when Northeastern faces Colorado at 2:30 p.m. CST, streamed live on tv.ncr.rugby. 

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With both teams averaging more than five tries a game in the postseason, Saturday figures to be a shootout between two programs who’ve long been competitive in their respective time zones, but never met on the pitch before. 

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The Huskies are the reigning 7s national champions, winning Northeastern’s first title in April. The Buffaloes have enjoyed deep playoff runs in years past, but a win Sunday would be the program’s first natty.

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Northeastern comes in undefeated on the season, slaying top-ranked Notre Dame, 41-7, in the quarterfinals, and Virginia in the semifinals, 38-24. All-Americans Molly McAvaley and Kourtney Bichotte-Dunner have been carrying injuries in the postseason, but with 90-plus players on the roster, the Huskies are deep enough to overcome some changes. 

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Colorado played two nailbiters to advance from the West Region, beating Lander 38-31 on a Friday, and avenging a two-point loss to Northern Iowa from last year’s DI playoffs, 34-14, on Sunday. Scrumhalf Dani Michaels and No. 8 Lucia Hoffman lead a proud herd of Buffs determined to carry the flag for what they think is an underrated High Peaks Conference.  

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