CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Women cruised to a 91-nil victory over visiting Cornell as Roberto A. Mignone Field was offically opened for business.
Pregame
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women's rugby team (4-1, 2-1 Ivy) finishes up regular season play as it hosts Cornell (3-0, 3-0 Ivy) at 1 p.m. on Saturday. At the conclusion of the game, there will be a dedication ceremony for the newly-renovated Roberto A. Mignone Field.
Last Time Out
The Crimson rolled to a 58-5 win over Princeton last weekend, moving to 4-1 overall, including 2-1 in Ivy League action. Harvard dominated both offensively and defensively against the Tigers, scoring eight unanswered tries while holding its opponent to single digits for the third time this season. With the victory, the Crimson earned home-field advantage for the Ivy League Tournament semifinal match on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Ancient Eight Action
Harvard concludes conference play against the Big Red after posting a 2-1 conference record that currently ranks second overall in Tier 1 of the Ivy League. Dartmouth remains undefeated at 3-0, but the Crimson could move up to a tie for first in the standings with a victory on Saturday.
There's No Place Like Home
A field dedication will take place after the game to honor the newly-renovated Roberto A. Mignone Field which was unveiled in September of 2016. The new pitch was updated to meet World Rugby field certification standards, including a new synthetic infill Fieldturf surface along with goal posts, team areas and perimeter safety netting. The field also features an elevated press box, lights and offers seating capacity for up to 900 fans in permanent bleachers.
Defensive Prowess
The Crimson has proven to be a defensive powerhouse this season. Harvard is allowing an average of just 9.8 points per match and has held its opponent to single digits in three contests. The Crimson recorded a shutout against the University of New England earlier this year, and held Navy and Princeton to seven and five points, respectively.
Offensive Leaders
Harvard's offense has been potent throughout the season and relies heavily on a balanced team attack. While multiple Crimson typically are involved in a scoring effort, sophomore Caitlin Weigel and senior Claire Collins have been able to consistently cap off possessions with points. Weigel has notched a try in all five contests for Harvard, while Collins has touched down in all but one match this season.
Scouting Cornell
The Big Red is off to a 3-0 start in its 2016 campaign. Cornell has won all of its matches by at least 30, and is averaging 53 points while allowing just over 16 points per game. The Big Red has defeated Columbia, Yale and Penn this season.
Ivy League Digital Network
The Ivy League Digital Network returns for a fourth season as the home for all live streaming and on-demand video content for each of the conference's eight institutions. Broadcast in full HD and featuring a live score bug and play-by-play and color commentary, the Ivy League Digital Network provides fans with unprecedented access to the Ancient Eight.
Multiple subscription options are available to fans, including school-specific and league-wide passes. The ILDN is also available on Apple TV and Roku. To learn more about the Ivy League Digital Network or to sign-up today, click here.
Post courtesy of Harvard Athletics
