CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Lander would start their day against a NIRA opponent in D1 Mount St. Mary's, this would be the Bearcats first shot at a NIRA D1 program. The Bearcats did not disappoint, opening up the game with a terrific steal by Julia Anhalt ('22) that turned into a 50 meter run and score by Jessica Burt ('23). Lander jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Mount answered back right away with their own score and conversion to take a 7-5 lead, and 2 minutes later right before halftime added to that lead to make it 12-5.
During the halftime break the team talked about trusting the process and staying in the system that got us here.
Coming out of halftime the mount committed a penalty early in the second half and Anhalt quick tapped and drew in the defense and with some swift passing by Paige Wisebaker ('22) Bailey Burt ('22) found the ball and ran it in from 50m to bring the score to 12-10 with the Mount leading. The game turned really physical with some big hits causing a knock-on that lead to a big scrum for Lander. Wisbeaker found Anhalt who found Jess Burt for another Bearcat score and Lander takes the lead 15-12. The ensuing kickoff by Anhalt found a Mount player who got rocked by a big hit by Kaylyn Hamby ('24) which jarred the ball loose, Bailey Burt picked up the ball and half the Mount Players and dragged them in goal for another score and a successful conversion by Erin Wholey ('22) Lander wins the game 22-12.
Scoring
Tries
Jessica Burt 2
Bailey Burt 2
Conversions
Anhalt 0-3
Wholey 1-1
Next up was Queens University, our friendly Southern rival.
The first half was a back and forth defensive battle that eventually wore down the Lions and the Bearcats took advantage right before halftime with a Bailey Burt Smash and Dash run giving Lander a 7-0 lead. Coming out of the second half Queens would kickoff and Jess Burt received the kick and ran it back for an impressive score, extending the lead to 12-0. Lander defense was hitting on all cylinders but with 2 minutes left in the game a Queens player found the accelerator and darted for the corner where she was met by Jess Burt, both players dove and it was a big collision but Queens was able to get the ball down for the score 12-5 Lander still leads. The kickoff lead to several attacking phases by Lander which softened the defense up enough for Jess Burt to find a hole which she ran through like a freight train punishing defenders on her way to the score Lander wins with a final score of 17-5 over Queens.
Scoring
Tries
Bailey Burt 1 (3)
Jess Burt 2 (4)
Conversions
Anhalt 1-3 (1-6)
Onto the Semi Final against another D1 powerhouse and defending National Champs Navy
Wanna talk about another great game, it was a defensive war between these two hard hitting sides. Scoring opened with Lander on a 5 phase attack which eventually found Jess Burt who ran it in from 25 meters out, Lander leads 5-0. Navy came right back with a counter punch and played the rest of the half inside Lander territory eventually leading to a penalty under the posts against Jess burt who got her first yellow card for the day, Lander would have to play down a player and Navy capitalized scoring twice before halftime to take a 14-5 lead. The second half was much like the first half a back and forth defensive battle Lander was on a 6 phase attack and eventually found some space outside and Jess Burt exploited it and brought lander back to within a score but Navy still lead 14-10. More back and forth between these two sides and both sides found their defense holding up until the last play of the game when Navy was able to take advantage of a miscue on defense and score at the final horn and win the game 19-10.
Scoring
Tries
Jess Burt 2 (6)
Conversions
Wholey 0-2 (1-3)
Lander in the 3rd place game against D2 NIRA team West Chester
Lander only had 30 minutes between matches and turned in another great performance against another great team. Once again Lander opened up the scoring with a defensive interception by Jess Burt who ran it in for a pick 5 a successful conversion by Wholey gave Lander an early 7-0 lead, but the Golden Rams would not be held back, after several attacking phases West Chester answered back and with the successful conversion the score was knotted up at 7 a piece. Lander answered back with another defensive turnover that lead to another Jess Burt score and another conversion by Wholey the Bearcats take the lead 14-7. Right before half West Chester answered back with a converted try and once again the score was tied 14-14.
The second half was a great defensive effort by both teams but unfortunately Lander could not keep it up, and the Golden Rams scored with 2 minutes left in the game and Lander couldn't answer back. The game ended as did Landers chances at going to Nationals.
Scoring
Tries
Jess Burt 2 (8)
Conversions
Wholey 0-2 (1-5)
