Notre Dame College Wins in OT

One could not have asked for a better start to this playoff weekend, as Stanford and Notre Dame College faced each other in the Women’s DI College Spring Championship semifinals. The teams ended regulation tied 17-17, which held through the first 10-minute overtime period. With five minutes left in the 100-plus-minute game, the Falcons surged with two tries, 29-17 for the win and berth to the final.

Stanford enjoyed the majority of possession during the first 30 minutes, but to the credit of Notre Dame College’s defense, only five points were logged. The Falcons did make it tough on themselves, though, committing several penalties that allowed Stanford to stay in the attacking half. Notre Dame College flyhallf Emilia Ferrara had the best boot on the field and used it well to assuage pressure, and flanker Karmin Macedo and hooker Kayla Rudman were very aggressive off the line.

Just when it looked like Notre Dame College was going to settle into its first attacking campaign in Stanford’s end, Cardinal prop Jett Hayward turned over a ruck and moved it outside center Madda Wilson on the sideline. She tore down the field, tip-toeing the line, for a big gain. A few phases later and No. 8 Dani McDonald dove across for the first half’s only try, 5-0 after 10 minutes.

Slippery conditions saw a myriad of handling errors, but play remained in Notre Dame College’s end until approximately 30 minutes in. A booming penalty kick from Ferrara got the Falcons to midfield, and then a series of knock-ons and penalties extended Notre Dame College’s time on attack. Pick-and-goes from hard runners like Marcaya Bailous, Hannah Long and McKenna Hultin saw the Falcons go over the line, but Stanford prevented the grounding.

As dogged as Notre Dame College’s defense was in the first 30 minutes, Stanford did well to repel a barrage of try-line drives. The Cardinal could have used that stand as momentum into the second half, but it was the Falcons that surged early after the break.

Macedo intercepted a pass during the opening phase of play. Following a series of pick-and-goes, the ball moved wide, hit the ground, and fullback Alex Strasser calmly collected it and weaved across the try line, 5-0.

After the restart, Ferrara sent a good clearance kick that replacement wing Natalie Bacon chased down. Her efforts drew a penalty and Macedo restarted play quickly. The ball moved from Long to Bailous to Walsh and Emily Klemencic, as the players connected out of contact. The final pop pass found Strasser for her second try, 10-5.

Stanford held onto the ball from the subsequent possession. Ferrara sent another good clearance and Fox’s chase and tackle did well to relieve pressure. The ball then moved wide to Wilson, who dummied between defenders and planted a fend for the centered try. Bernadel Huey’s conversion was good, 12-10 to Stanford.

A dominant Stanford scrum got the Cardinal attacking again. Notre Dame College inside center Lea Walsh, who had been flying up on defense all game, took a risk in her own end – but it paid off. She intercepted a pass for a long break that Bailous kept moving forward. The possession turned into a near-try from Walko Suia who stepped across her defense, until Stanford fullback Lex Schoenberg forced an errant pass.

But Walko Suia got her redemption minutes later as the shifty nine stepped past the defense from five meters out. Ferrara nailed the off-center conversion for the 17-12 lead with seven minutes remaining.

More penalties from Notre Dame College eventually produced a yellow card that sent Macedo off the field – a huge loss. Immediately afterward, Stanford took its five-meter lineout across the try line for the corner dot-down. The conversion went across the face for the 17-17 tie that held for the final two minutes of regulation.

Stanford started to show some fatigue in the final overtime period, with slow support to tackles in its own end. Notre Dame College, despite have a short bench, was able to send Bailous and Long continually through the line. Two breaks from Walko Suia and Walsh got the team to Stanford’s try line, and Bailous took the final drive across the line. Ferrara, who’s kicking game was instrumental today, added the conversion.

The Falcons forwards kept hammering away, and the death knell occurred with a Leslie Velez popped over the try line, 29-17 for the victory. Notre Dame College advances to the DI spring final against the winner of UC Davis.

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