Look for players like UCF’s Agnes Fuerst in Las Vegas this weekend. /// Photo: Eyal Hakim
Round 2 of the DI College Spring Top 15 sees a few moves after some influential outcomes last weekend.
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Most notably, Arizona defeated UC San Diego 58-7 and not only overtook the reigning conference champion in the Gold Coast standings but also improved upon the Tritons’ previous 11th-place ranking. Stay tuned for more on the Wildcats.
Central Florida put down 15 tries against Florida State to improve to 7-0 in Florida, and moved past Chico State, which dropped its third-straight match last weekend to UC Davis. UCF inside center Jamie Spartaro accounted for 38 points on four tries and nine conversions, while flanker Giovanna Medell, flyhalf Jennifer Fasano, outside center Agnes Fuerst and fullback Cortney Kuehl scored two tries apiece. (see the full scoresheet here).
Even though Oregon lost to Washington State last weekend, it was a respectable scoreline considering the Cougars’ domination this year. The big game on the remaining schedule occurs this weekend, as Oregon plays Washington for the North’s second berth to the Pacific Mountain conference playoffs.
The top nine teams remained stable. Penn State played its first 15s game of the spring season against Pittsburgh and welcomed back Scout Cheeks, who had a big day in the try zone.
Life University scrimmaged the South Independent Rugby Conference (SIRC) All-Stars, which primarily selects players from its DII teams (DI affiliate members can contribute a limited amount of players). In Saturday’s three-period match, new freshman Alex Sedrick (Herriman, Utah) scored three tries in 15 minutes.
UC Davis stayed perfect in the Pacific Mountain West, defeating Chico State by a bigger margin than the teams’ first meeting, and Stanford has secured second place after a 46-12 win over Cal. Come playoff time, the Aggies and Cardinal will receive byes to the conference semifinals as the West’s #1 and #2 seeds.
UVA finished its Mason Dixon regular season with a 60-point shutout over the University of North Carolina. The conference’s southern pool has one more match – UNC vs. East Carolina – this weekend, while the northern pool will wrap up with Kent State vs. Temple on March 11. Once the standings have been determined, crossover quarterfinals will follow, and the higher seed will host.
Virginia Tech and James Madison lent some insight into the relative strength of the pools, playing a south vs. north friendly on Saturday. Virginia Tech won 48-27.
The USA 7s and LVI control attention this upcoming weekend, and there is one headliner unfolding in Las Vegas: BYU vs. Lindenwood. Stay tuned!
