Photo: Richard Wortman •
The season-openers for the DII Pacific South set the tone for another entertaining year. DII returner Las Vegas held off San Fernando Valley 27-20; Fullerton and San Luis Obispo tied at 22; and Pasadena was 50 points better than Santa Barbara. But it was Old Pueblo (O.P.) Lightning’s 51-5 road win over reigning league champ Ventura that drew the most inquiry.
[Click here for more detailed info on the DII Pacific South]
Last February, Lightning defeated Ventura 5-0 in Tucson, but the Outlaws took their revenge during the league championship. Ventura then advanced to the national quarterfinals, the western portion of which occurred at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex. The Lightning attended and gauged the next-level talent.
“We can beat these guys,” Lightning coach Swing DePoint quoted his players in the stands. The team put an asterisk next to eventual champion Life West, which now competes in DI, but viewing the national playoffs, “helped them put things in perspective and recognize what they needed to do individually and as a team to get to that level.”
Two things happened: A cast of veterans, having enjoyed a club high point, retired. The recruitment committee responded, not only filling the roster with numbers, but injecting more athleticism onto the pitch. The team recommitted itself to fitness and had the numbers to run at each other during fall practices. It also meant that B side games could be worked into the pre-season.
“When I started doing this, I thought it’d be a three-year cycle,” DePoint said. “In the playbook, we’re a year, year-and-a-half in. Lots of players understand the philosophies now, and we’re tweaking it based on how we mature.
“It’s more that we’re able to execute the philosophy better with the new athletes,” the coach explained the influence of former football players and UofA rugby grads into the team. “Part of the playbook is based on the loose row forwards playing a huge role all over the field, and they’re more athletic this year.”
An example of such is newcomer Morgan Haggerty. She earned MVP on Saturday, starting at flanker, moving to center, and serving as menace around the field. Ventura is a good poaching team, and DePoint singled out Haggerty as O.P.’s best weapon in stealing possession and testing the Outlaws’ discipline.
It was a favor returned, as Ventura spent the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s match on the offensive. The Lightning devoted itself to a blitz defense, which finally frustrated the host’s attack. Four team tries evolved, and O.P. led 24-5 at the break.
The second half began in the same manner as the first, and the visitors stayed vigilant on the goal line. After a couple of held-up tries, Ventura’s intensity faded, and O.P. responded with another 27 points.
“It was a good match by [O.P.], as they really utilized space outside along the touch line to spread out Ventura,” wrote referee Vince McLeod IV, whose expertise and communication drew acclaim from the coaching staff. “They had a few instances of capitalizing on mistakes that led to large breakaways for three separate [tries].
“Although it was Ventura’s first league match, [O.P.] still looked to be quality in terms of team cohesion and understanding. Ventura didn’t give up though, so it was a delightful match to be the center on,” he added.
Arizona graduate Tina Aprahamian was particularly effective on the sideline, scoring three tries from wing.
“We came into the weekend with high emotions and expectations, and prepared a lot for it,” DePoint said. “They felt a little payback, and that the hard work all January was worth it – and that the trip was worth it. … The drive back is easier when you win.
“Folks talk about how this could be a team that could go a long way, and I want to encourage that,” the coach added. “But I want to temper that for sure. Looking at the video, there are already six things that we need to work on.”
The season is young, and backs captain Alex Rath and forwards captain Rachel Olson will be charged with keeping the team motivated and focused. A good test arrives on March 11, when DI Tempe comes to town. The DI Pacific South has only three teams this year, so it’s playing crossovers against the top DII teams as well as the San Diego Surfers.
• Week 2 (Feb 4) match-ups:
San Fernando Valley v Ventura
O.P. Lightning v Fullerton
San Luis Obispo v Santa Barbara
Pasadena v Las Vegas