The March 12 edition of the DI Spring College Ranking shakes up a bit, and results that evolved the previous weekend are better reflected in moves this Monday.
Chico State earned the automatic berth to the USA Rugby DI Spring Round of 16/8 (April 20-22) when it claimed the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference (PMRC) West title. The Wildcats bypass the PMRC West-North playoffs, which take place April 7-8 at Stanford, and ready for regional competition.
Stanford had finished its regular season with a 55-0 loss to Chico State and that defeat is better reflected in this week’s ranking. The Cardinal sit one spot above UC Davis, which ended its regular season with a 57-22 win over Humboldt. These two teams played to a single-digit decision in their last meeting, and both advance to the conference playoffs as the #2 and #3 teams in the West.
Mckenna Rybka, Alex Denzinger (2), Clarice Chartier, Alexie Smith and Ariah Yager all scored tries in Washington State’s 40-7 win over Washington. The Cougars finish atop the PMRC North undefeated and will face UC Davis in the conference semifinals. Flanker Maddison Mitchell scored five tries for Oregon State in a 66-15 win over Boise State. The Beavers finished second in the North and will head to Palo Alto in April UNLESS West #4 Humboldt travels to Corvallis, Ore., for a challenge match first.
UVA holds onto the second spot, but Central Florida is pressuring for a takeover. UVA coach Nancy Kechner talked about a team that isn’t particularly talented, but just playing really well together. And UCF reminded us that it beat UVA pretty well in last year’s DI spring playoffs as it repeated as Savannah St. Patrick’s Day tournament champ this weekend. UCF beat Virginia Tech 19-0 in the Sunday final.
But the big news came out of the Gold Coast, as DI newcomer Grand Canyon traveled to UC Santa Barbara for a 19-12 win. Gauchos inside center Lauren Thunen gave the home side a 7-0 lead on a try and conversion, and then her opposite, Daeanera Tuaua answered back approximately 10 minutes later, 7-5 to UCSB. Before the halftime break, fullback Sarah Lawson scored the go-ahead points for the Lopes, and wing Natasha Opoku converted for the 12-7 edge.
At minute 53, UCSB flanker Naomi Carrillo evened it up with a try, and with 10 minutes to go Tuaua got her second try and Opoku her second conversion, 19-12, which held through the final whistle.
“‘Stay humble, always hungry and get some,'” Grand Canyon captain Jasmine Fifer recited her team’s motto. “The team is at its strongest right now as the team grows. We continue to stay humble, remain calm and play GCU style of rugby. And most importantly enjoying ourselves on the field with one another.”
Both teams are better for this match and head into the Gold Coast final four weekend (March 24-25 at Grand Canyon) as the favorites to meet in the conference final. CSU Northridge is also going to the conference semifinals, and that fourth team won’t be named until the Arizona vs. Arizona State game this weekend.
