Waukesha, WI–Hamilton was tasked with dethroning the defending state champions, Catholic Memorial, in their first trip to the state semi-finals in team history. Although Hamilton lost 64-5, the game was closer than the final score indicated, as Hamilton only trailed by two tries ten minutes into the second half.
Catholic Memorial used a sequence of successful rucks and a scrum half pick to score their first try two minutes into the game. Hamilton almost got the try back after a long run by Morgan Price, senior, was prevented by a last-ditch tackle by Memorial’s fullback eight minutes later.
Hamilton was able to create moments where they were able to press Memorial in their own end, but they were able to punch in a score in the first half. Meanwhile, Memorials #13 took advantage of an overload and later some missed tackles to advance her team’s lead to 21-0 by the end of the first half.
After losing to Memorial 89-5 during last year’s regular season, Hamilton was buoyed at half by the close score, and the number of scoring chances they had in the first half. Just minutes into the second half, the Harriers used that momentum to put in their only try of the game when Elise Rades, senior, pulled the ball out of a ruck near the try line and ran in for the score. Alex Werra’s kick from the outside came up just short, but team was energized by closing the lead to 21-5.
Unfortunately, about five minutes later, shifty running by Catholic Memorial players and poor tackling from Hamilton over a ten minute span was responsible for a trio of tries by Memorial, putting Hamilton down 38-5. Hamilton had 47 missed tackles in this game, the most in any game this season.
Hamilton seemed to have another try when Price broke through the line with no one in front of her. Memorial prevented this with a high a tackle from behind that probably should have been awarded a penalty try, but the ref missed the call. This, coupled with try scored by Catholic Memorial just minutes after, put Hamilton down 45-5 with ten minutes to go and officially killed any last hopes of a comeback.
After the try, Hamilton subbed in their entire bench, as they finished the game with 11 first-year players on the field. The new group would allowed three tries, 19 points, to finish the game.
–Morgan Price set a Hamilton single-game playoff record by registering 18 tackles.
–Hamilton’s appearance in the state semi-finals was their first trip to the final four in their young history.
–In Hamilton’s first two seasons, the Harriers have played CMH fives times (two pre-season games, a regular season game, a friendly 7s game, and a playoff game). Hamilton has only score four combined tries against CMH in these games. Elise Rades has scored two of those tries.
–Savanna Thorne, Sydney Raymond, and Lauren Leonardi were the only starters who did not register a missed tackle.
–Hamilton will play the loser of Saturday’s contest featuring Stevens Point and Divine Savior Holy Angels.
Fantastic Five
- Morgan Price
- Had a record 18 tackles, only one missed tackle, and almost scored twice.
- Calla Dane
- Registered 9 tackles and helped setup Rades’ try.
- Savanna Thorne
- Was 100% in tackling, registering 8 tackles with no misses.
- Elise Rades
- Had a great offensive display and scored the teams’ only try, but didn’t register a tackle and led the team in missed tackles (8).
- Hannah Pfersch
- Led the team as captain and registered seven tackles.
Hamilton RFC 