BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College women's rugby team will look to repeat as National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division III Champions this weekend as they travel to West Point, N.Y., for the national championship match Sunday against the University of New England (4-2).
 
The match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the Anderson Rugby Complex on the campus of Army-West Point. Tickets are $10 for adults and the match will be broadcast live on Army's KnightVision Broadcasting Service.
 
About the Polar Bears
Coming out of the COVID-19 break, Bowdoin has enjoyed its first undefeated regular season since 2015…the Polar Bears have rolled to a 7-0 mark (3-0 in NIRA play) and are averaging 49.1 points per match…defensively, Bowdoin has allowed just a total of 53 points all season…the 2019 NIRA Division III Champions, Bowdoin has a nine-game winning streak overall dating back to October of 2019…head coach MaryBeth Mathews has been the head coach for all 18 years the program has been varsity status, and owns a career record of 137-47-1 (.733).
 
Series History vs. University of New England
Likely the premier rivalry in Division III women's rugby, Sunday's contest will be a rematch of the 2019 title game, won by Bowdoin 27-5. After establishing themselves as a varsity program in 2016, the Nor'easters won three of their first four matches against Bowdoin, but the Polar Bears have dominated the series of late, winning four straight by an average margin of 28 points. In the team's regular season clash earlier this season, Bowdoin claimed a 41-12 victory in Brunswick.
 
2021 NIRA National Championships
The Division III title game will be part of a two-day NIRA National Championship festival, which will include the Division I title match on Saturday evening and the Division II championship following the Bowdoin-UNE game on Sunday afternoon. For complete information, visit the NIRA National Championships home page.