Photo courtesy BYU Women’s Rugby
BYU and Lindenwood were both active last weekend, and both posted big shutouts. Penn State and Life University enjoyed a bye week but all four teams will be back on the pitch this weekend.
Lindenwood University traveled to Chicago North Shore, which joined the Women’s Premier League in fall 2017, and returned with a 65-0 win. The Lions are 2-0 in 15s games this year, having defeated Kansas City Jazz, a DII senior club, 32-20 in February.
Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru (New Zealand) and Mary Healy (Ireland) had multi-try games, while McKenzie Hawkins (Tenn.) added 10 points on five conversions. Caring De Freitas (Venezuela), Casey Karl (Calif.), Ariana Lewis (Calif.), Alia Ah Far (New Zealand) and Meg Gold (Idaho) scored one try apiece.
Karl and Lewis were named Most Valuable Back and Forward, respectively, and Joyce Taufa (Hawaii) also received special recognition for her hard-hitting performance.
Lindenwood will continue this 15s stretch with a game against the Ohio U24s on Sunday in Chicago. The Missouri side will then play back-to-back 7s tournaments (Tropical 7s and Life University 7s), and enters those competitions as the LVI 7s Women’s Open champions (read more).
Chicago North Shore traveled to Nashville the weekend prior to play Life University and fell 22-10.
BYU reported an 86-0 win over DI Boise State. Alisa Baker and Maya Hood scored three tries each, while Genesis Hinckley (2), Lefanoga Stanley (2) Sarah Jones, Kat Stowers and Teuila Faasavalu also scored. Wood and Emily McFadyen handled the extras.
Boise State just finished its first DI season in the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference’s North competition, the highlight being a 41-33 win over Washington.
Saturday’s game was the first of four-straight 15s games, culminating in an April 7 home game against Central Washington. BYU is one of four host sties for the USA Rugby DI Elite / DI Spring Round of 16/8 (April 20-21). The Cougars return to action this Saturday against DII Utah Valley.
Penn State and Life University are playing in a highly anticipated match this Sunday and meet on neutral ground: Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. It will be the first and only meeting between DI Elite team in 2018 before playoffs.
MARCH 24-25
Lindenwood vs. Ohio U24s (@ Chicago)
Utah Valley @ BYU
Life vs. Penn State (@ Virginia Tech)