Caitlane Fricia scores the game-winner, again. /// Photos: Jackie Finlan
In a rematch of the South Independent Rugby Conference (SIRC) final, Kennesaw State defeated Tulane University 21-15 for the DII College Spring Championship title. The Lady Owls will now contest the DII national championship in Marietta, Ga., against fall champion Davenport University.
Kennesaw State advanced to today’s final after edging UC Irvine 36-10 in Saturday’s semifinal. Tulane bested Grand Canyon 22-20 in its spring final four match. (read more)
“We love Tulane,” Kennesaw State scrumhalf Akilah Guzman said of the pros of playing a familiar opponent in the final. “We expect them to bring it as hard as we do, even harder. …
“They hit hard, every single time – their 12 [Alexandra Clarke], 13 [Maddie Brenner],” Guzman reflected on the cons. “But I think we can stop them – I mean, we just did.”
Brenner in particular was a constant go-forward force, as were standouts like Clare Sullivan, Emma Peterson and Gwen Leifer. No. 8 Lily Wissinger was truly difficult to subdue, and was so fast off the line and tough in tight.
Wissinger accounted for the game’s first two scores. The first try came nine minutes into the match, as Tulane capitalized on good territory (much of the first half was played in Kennesaw’s end) and the No. 8 dove over for the try, which fullback Tristan Peronard converted.
The second try epitomized how dangerous Wissinger can be. As Kennesaw State started to run out of its end, Wissinger flew into the passing lane, picked off the pass, and returned it 20 meters for the corner try, 12-0.
Although the teams battled well, Tulane played with more spirit and organization in the first half, but as Guzman noted, it’s not uncommon for Kennesaw State to require a rally.
“We’re known as a second-half team. I hate saying that but we are always that team,” the scrumhalf said. “We take forever to get in our heads, ‘Hey, we’re playing a rugby match; we need to do this, we need to do that.’”
Kennesaw State got a boost when outside center Monica Rodriguez broke the line and passed out of the tackle to Guzman in support. The scrumhalf finished off the break with a try, and hooker Rose Walker hit the conversion, 12-7 into the break.
Walker is more than a conversion kicker. She a leader in the pack and sets the tone on defense.
“She’s one of the girls who hits hard every single time, shoots up on the line. She’s the first person to make that hit,” Guzman said.
Kennesaw State’s Chelsea Jones was also disruptive on defense. Aside from bone-crunching tackles, the prop played to the referee’s management of the ruck and offsides to shake up Tulane’s flow. In the second half, Kennesaw State incurred more offsides penalties.
As the fourth quarter neared, the Georgia squad took its first lead of the match. Guzman peeled weak off a midfield scrum, was tackled and popped back to her feet. She weaved through the remaining defense and then circled around to the posts for the try. Walker converted, 14-12.
As mentioned, Kennesaw State suffered from some penalties, and with 15 minutes remaining, Peronard lined up a three-pointer in her range, 15-14 lead to Tulane.
As the clock wound down, Tulane did well to press inside Kennesaw State’s 22. But with fewer than two minutes, the Lady Owls had the opportunity to regroup with a scrum. The Georgia side rarely kicked to touch, preferring to rung itself out of trouble. As the ball came out, Leifer streaked across the field for an extra layer of defense, but the ball still found its target: Fricia. A sense of deja vu washed over the pitch.
In the SIRC final, Fricia took a lineout for a long breakaway try that awarded Kennesaw State the title againt Tulane. Similarly today, Fricia got to the outside, shook off several would-be tackles and then centered her try. Walker converted for the 21-15 final lead.
“It just clicks the last 15 minutes of the game,” Guzman said. “We’re a second-half team, and if that’s how we have to make it work, then we make it work.”
Another two, five, 10 minutes and who knows how the game would have finished – Kennesaw State and Tulane push each other. Both teams have overcome deficits and won games in dramatic fashion this post-season, so it was appropriate that the spring final was equally as thrilling.
Fortunately, Kennesaw State is only 10 miles from Life University, where the DII national championship will be contested on May 6, so attendance isn’t an issue. The Lady Owls have one more game to play against fall champion Davenport University.
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