United repeated as the High School Club National Invitational Tournament (NIT) champion, and the Utah team had a very different build-up compared to last year’s team. The same can be said for fellow finalist North Bay, which was the first east coast team to feature in an NIT final in at least 15 years. *
“[The second title] does feel a little different just because we lost so many seniors last year that it’s a completely different team. Not better, just different,” said United No. 8 Addie Horsley, who has captained the team the last three years.
United didn’t have a vibrant 15s league on which to lean and didn’t pick up any competitive friendlies and travel to tournaments. The coaching staff attempted to line up games in Idaho and elsewhere, but it didn’t work out. Being an NIT champion has its drawbacks at times.
“We started out rough. Our first 15s game we tied Provo 10-10,” Horsley said. “Surprisingly 10s helped us out a lot. We really got into the system and pounded it into them and we just worked it well.”
Playing 10s also helped United with its fitness, and co-coach Carson Mellott explained that the system the team runs is scaleable, “if you can play with 10 then it’ll look good with 15,” Horsley summarized.
United played just three 15s games before arriving in Mufreesboro, Tenn., and Horsley confessed there was some concern about field time affecting performance. The NIT’s 10-team set-up pit the team against newcomer Brunswick, a team that had played earlier in the day, allowed United to get the kinks out during a 75-0 quarterfinal win. The following day, United beat Morris 38-0 in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Maryland’s North Bay was eager to play some high-stakes matches. Coach Scott Hoffman indicated that the team had played one real competitive 15s game in preparation. The team also played an NIT newcomer, Belmont Shore, and the SoCal team debuted well in the 31-19 decision to North Bay. That set up a day two semifinal against South Bay, which took a 10-0 lead after two tries from wing Siniva Mailo.
The Spartans incurred two yellow cards within a minute of each other but they didn’t yield any points in that time. But, the half did end with a knock-on in-goal, so points were a fingertip away. North Bay upped the pressure, and in repetition of the second yellow card, a South Bay defender did not retreat 10 meters off a quick-tap in the red zone, made the tackle and a third card was issued. Co-captain and flyhalf Alex Pipkin dotted against the goal post and converted, 10-7.
With time winding down, North Bay rode momentum back into scoring position and co-captain Sam Tancredi scored the game-winner at the death, 12-10, for the team’s first trip to the NIT championship.
During the first half of the final, North Bay held a lot of the possession, but United was able to convert its ball in hand into dynamic linebreaks. One turned into a try as United’s wing skirted down the sideline for the first half’s only points, 5-0 into the break.
Tancredi explained that her team is a second-half team, and three minutes after halftime, North Bay used a United yellow card inside its 22 to get the ball to senior Hailey Thomas for the dive-over try, 5-all. That was the spark that United needed.
“It’s funny. They scored on us first [in the second half], and that’s exactly what happened last year [against Fallbrook],” Horsley said. “I don’t know what it is, but we need to get scored on and then we’re ready to play. We came back immediately and scored and we just kinda had to roll with it.”
United returned the restart for a quickly worked try and went up 10-5 with approximately 20 minutes to play. But neither side could really establish a rhythm that sustained phases. North Bay took on a bunch of penalties, and Horsley had to leave the pitch.
With five minutes to go, hard-striking inside center Makena Taumoepeau sliced through the line for her team’s third try, 15-5, and that’s where the score ended. Horsley, who has captained United the previous three years, singled out Sunshine Packer and Princess Tafiti for outstanding performances.
“The thing I liked about them is that they really stepped up and played a hard position that they weren’t really comfortable with. They were put under a lot of pressure and they executed well,” the All-American said. “I love their attitude on the field but I love it – maybe even more – off the field because they’re so positive. ‘Keep a level head, we got it, let’s keep going.’ And those two are perfect for that.”
The repeat championship was Horsley’s last as a United leader, but some players will be heading to the HSRC 7s and stay active in the summer. Horsley herself has accepted an academic scholarship and will begin her collegiate career this fall close to home.
“It makes me happy. To see such young girls – because we only have five seniors this year and a lot of juniors and sophomores – just to see when I leave that they’ll still be a good program. … It makes me happy that I’m leaving United in a good place.”
* Haverford, which played in the 2002 NIT championship against Kent, no longer exists or is a former name of an existing club, but I *think* it was in Pennsylvania.
United #NorthBay #2018NIT