Photos: Hector Garcia-Molina. See full album.
Stanford (3-1) and Chico State (2-2) played the closest match of the DI Pacific Mountain conference’s West division last weekend, and it nearly didn’t happen. Non-stop rain made the pitch at Steuber Stadium vulnerable, but the inability to reschedule the league match meant: The game must go on.
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And thank goodness it did – especially for Stanford, which has been attempting to define itself as injuries and other commitments have limited player availability. The Cardinal was not only able to answer some of those questions but also emerged with a 24-12 win.
“Chico came ready to play, playing a really physical and very direct style of game,” Stanford coach Josh Sutcliffe said of the Wildcats’ big, defense-piercing squad. “They had more weapons than we expected them to have. The first 10-20 minutes, we had to weather that storm a lot.”
The team remained patient and allowed hooker-turned-scrumhalf Kathryn Treder – who had one day’s practice in the nine spot – to get into a rhythm and produce faster ball. The players took their opportunities when they arose and had a little more success with that finishing pass.
“I was really impressed with how our players refocused and stuck to our game plan, because that was one of our great struggles against Davis,” Sutcliffe referenced the 46-0 loss. “In the first 20 minutes [against Davis], we held the ball for a good period. But after a single turnover, they went 80 meters for a try. That was the flow of the first half – we’d build pressure and not convert points while they’d have the ball a short time and score.”
Around the 15-minute mark, Stanford wing Nicole Esdall scored the first of her two tries, and flyhalf Olivia Bernadel-Huey added a conversion for the 7-5 lead – one that would hold to game’s end. Esdall, No. 8 Dani McDonald and outside center Madda Wilson also scored, while Bernadel-Huey added a second conversion.
McDonald at No. 8? Turns out it’s been a revelation.
“It’s not a stroke of coaching genius,” Sutcliffe confessed. “It’s more that we had a problem and she had the tools to fix it.”
McDonald began the season at fullback but didn’t get enough touches on the ball. When eightman opened up, she ticked all of the requirements for a knowledgeable, flexible loose forward, and gave it a go during a doubleheader weekend.
‘We know Dani has all those skills so we threw her in against Cal and she did a good job,” Sutcliffe said. “The next day against Humboldt she turned into a mini wrecking ball. She was closer to the ball and had no restrictions – could just go out and play – and it was really positive for the whole team. When you put someone with a really high rugby IQ in very close to the ball … they’re going to have a big impact on the game.”
No. 8 might not be McDonald’s natural fit in the long haul, but it’s the right place for her on this team. She still connects with Bernadel-Huey, another player who needs to be around the ball often and who is helping shape rookie inside center Avery Tallman with Wilson.
As for the forwards, they’re young but hitting that 12-15-month mark of rugby experience. The pieces are starting to connect and they’re seeing where they can support and contribute around the field.
“They’re inexperienced and making mistakes, but as a whole they’re getting a lot of work, and have smiles on their faces because they’re getting positive moments that build confidence,” said Sutcliffe.
That confidence will no doubt collide with a fired-up Chico State this weekend. The two face each other for round two in Chico, and the Cardinal is bracing itself for the hometown crowd, which was influential in Stanford last Saturday.
“They’ll prepare for us and surely have a wrinkle up their sleeve,” Sutcliffe said. “These [back-to-back] games are always interesting and we hope to add a couple wrinkles this week, too. That’s the fun of it, and the players are looking forward to the challenge.”
Stanford isn’t looking to make any major changes, and will focus on staying connected on defense, tackle mechanics and ball retention. Stanford vs. Chico State is the race to watch, as berths to the Pacific Mountain conference semifinals – and therefore DI regional championships – are on the line.
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