LEMONT, Ill. – Davenport took on Minnesota in the National Quarterfinals and took care of business. The Panthers defeated the Golden Gophers 49-5 in poor weather conditions in Illinois. USA Rugby almost cancelled the game before it started the weather was so bad.
 
Due to the weather, Davenport kept tight for the most part to lower the risk of ball handling errors. Five minutes into the game Danielle Ordway made a long break fending off tacklers down to the 10-meter line and passed off to Alanna Girardin for the try. From then on the forward pack took control of the match for DU, keeping the ball tight and moving the ball slowly downfield.
 
"Hunter Moreland, Veronica Overbeek, Allison Miedzielec, Alexis King, and Amy Plambeck made life miserable for the Golden Gophers," said Head Coach Greg Teliczan. "That group of ladies had hard punishing runs, retaining position and attacking their opposition again and again."
 
The physicality that Davenport played with proved to be to much for Minnesota and the Panthers would cross the try line multiple times. Due to cold weather and horrible field conditions the field official shortened the second half by 20 minutes.
 
Davenport plays the Air Force Academy tomorrow (Sunday, November 19) in the semifinals. The game will be played at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) in Lemont, Ill.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra