By: submitted by Nicole Carvalho
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - On September 6th, the Panthers hosted Wheeling in their first home game of the season. The opening minutes were tense, with both teams locked in a defensive battle and unable to cross the try line. The Cardinals came in with a score to settle, as the last time these two sides met was in the finals of a 7s tournament back in April, where the Panthers claimed victory.
Fifteen minutes into the game, Wheeling earned the first yellow card after a high tackle. Davenport wasted no time capitalizing, as eight-man
Kara Higgins powered through for the first try of the match. Higgins dominated in the forward pack, controlling scrums and linking up seamlessly with scrum-half
Sasha Fernandez-Ricci, who soon added another try with a quick pick-and-go, stretching the Panthers' lead to 14-0.
The Cardinals responded with strong offensive pressure, pinning Davenport in defense for nearly 10 straight minutes. But with grit and determination, the Panthers held their ground and denied Wheeling any points during that stretch. By halftime, the score stood at a tight 21-12.
In the second half, the Panthers came out stronger and more disciplined. Even while playing down two players due to yellow cards for offsides, they stayed composed and extended their lead with two more tries. Wheeling, meanwhile, couldn't break through the Panthers' defensive wall again. The final whistle blew with Davenport on top, 42-12. The match ended with two red cards issued to Wheeling in the final 10 minutes.
This strong performance reflects the hard work and preparation our Panthers have put in since preseason. Next up, Davenport faces West Chester in their first conference match of the year, kicking off at 10 a.m. on September 13th at the DU Turf Field. Come out to support and show the Panthers your love—see you there!
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