TINTON FALLS, NJ – The College of Staten Island Women's Flag Football Sports Club Team traveled to the Capelli Sports Complex in Tinton Falls, NJ this past weekend for the final National Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL) regular season games on Saturday, May 2. The Dolphins closed out the regular season against Siena Heights and Delaware before the start of the 2026 NCFFL Championship Series on Sunday, May 3.
On Saturday, the Dolphins dropped both contests to Siena Heights and Delaware by scores of 26-0 and 20-0, respectively. CSI struggled to find offensive momentum despite showing improvement during the previous NCFFL tournament. Both Siena Heights and Delaware jumped out to early leads and never looked back.
The losses finalized the Dolphins' regular season record at 4-6, earning CSI the No. 7 seed in the nine-team league. The postseason field included No. 1 Villa Maria, No. 2 Delaware, No. 3 Rutgers, No. 4 Siena Heights, No. 5 Penn West, No. 6 Cortland, No. 8 St. Joe's Brooklyn, and No. 9 Howard CC.
Sunday morning also featured the NCFFL College Combine, which showcased prospective student-athletes interested in collegiate flag football and highlighted the continued growth of the sport.
When championship play began Sunday afternoon, the No. 7 Dolphins (4-6) faced No. 2 Delaware (5-2), a team that had shut out CSI the previous day. The Dolphins responded with a dominant defensive performance, holding Delaware scoreless throughout the game. The lone touchdown came late in the first half when Kristina Williamson hauled in a scoring reception to give CSI a 6-0 lead, which held as the final score and advanced the Dolphins to the NCFFL Final Four. Beginning with the semifinal round, games shifted to a four-quarter format consisting of 15-minute quarters.
CSI next faced No. 3 Rutgers (8-4), which advanced after defeating No. 6 Cortland. Rutgers opened the scoring early in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead after missing the extra point. The Dolphins answered shortly after with a touchdown of their own to tie the game at 6-6, though CSI also missed the extra point. The score remained tied through halftime following a scoreless second quarter.
The Dolphins came out strong in the third quarter, scoring early to take a 12-6 advantage. Later in the quarter, CSI added another touchdown to extend the lead to 18-6 heading into the fourth. Rutgers answered quickly in the final quarter to cut the deficit to 18-12, but the Dolphins defense continued to deliver key stops to secure the victory and send CSI to its second consecutive NCFFL Championship Game.
In the championship game, the Dolphins faced No. 4 Siena Heights (4-2), which advanced after upsetting previously unbeaten No. 1 Villa Maria. CSI's postseason run came to an end with a 14-0 loss as Siena Heights' defense held the Dolphins scoreless despite several scoring opportunities.
Although the Dolphins fell short of their championship goal, the program made significant strides in its first season under Head Coach Lucana and staff. CSI also earned four NCFFL All-Star selections for the 2026 season: Gia Esposito (WR/Snapper), Mia Cole (Rusher/Blitzer/Blocker), Julia Schmiderger (MLB/Snapper/WR/Blocker), and Gianna Bagilo (WR/Corner/Rusher).
