The only move in the DI Spring College Ranking saw Grand Canyon swap with idle Virginia Tech after an 86-0 win over UC San Diego. Inside center Daeanera Tuaua led with three tries, while prop Jaime Massey, outside center Julian White, wing Arisbel Gonzalez and replacement Megan Miguel added two tries apiece. Flyhalf Erin Eschbach kicked five conversions, and wing Natasha Opoku contributed 11 points on a try and three conversions.
Fellow Gold Coast team UC Santa Barbara also won big – 57-5 over Arizona – and saw outside center Lauren Thunen (4T, 6C), No. 8 Amanda Schweitzer (3T) and fullback Haley Pedersen (2T) score points. There’s a bye this week, and Thunen and Schweitzer will be playing with the Santa Barbara Rugby Academy in Las Vegas (read more). When they return the Gauchos will play the Lopes for the top spot in the conference.
South Carolina had to leave the rankings after a 83-0 loss to Virginia Women’s Rugby (UVA). Stay tuned for an interview with head coach Nancy Kechner on the status of this year’s team.
Further south, Central Florida posted an 84-point win over South Florida. Outside center Cortney Kuehl scored five tries, and wing Agnes Fuerst scored three in the first half. Flyhalf Jamie Spataro added 19 points on seven conversions and a try.
On the west coast, Chico State and Stanford continued to win, and while it feels strange to keep UC Davis on the list with a 2-5 record, the Aggies only lost by two points to Stanford the week prior. The Pacific Mountain North was idle this weekend.
