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7s Nationals: Cup QF Teams Sorted

  • 15 Aug 2021
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Alex Ho photo

Remember: Since the USA Club 7s National Championship includes 13 teams, there is a unique structure to situation the knockout rounds. Every pool except A, a third seeding round needed to be contested to determine the actual Cup quarterfinal match-ups. That said, the six teams in the seeding round are guaranteed a quarterfinal berth, so the round had a different feel to it.

Scion and ORSU head directly to the Cup quarterfinals, as Pool A had four teams, all of which played three games today. Scion closed day one with no points against and a 39-0 win against the Chicago Lions. Lauren Rhode was great in the middle of the pitch, confusing the defense, setting up teammates for scores, and accounting for 12 points on two tries and a conversion. Wing Jess Lu dotted down three tries, while Asinate Serevi and Emily Fulbrook also added five points apiece. Kimber Rozier kicked a conversion. Scion will play the loser of Washington AC vs. Tempe.


Alex Ho Photo

ORSU also shut out its third opponent, Santa Monica, 29-0 and will represent the Pacific Northwest in Sunday’s quarterfinals. The Jesters will face the winner of Life West and Optimus.

Life West won its second game 19-7 against Rocky Mountain, and the first few minutes of the game were really lovely defensive efforts. The Gladiatrix leaned on power from Leila Opeti and Hope Rogers to dot down two tries, and Alia Ah Far kicked the conversion for the 12-0 halftime lead. In the second half, Sam Sullivan took a lineout ball and an angle that halted the defense, slicing through for a 50-meter try, which she also converted: 12-7. The second half was a one-score affair, and it came from Rogers, to seal the win for Life West. . Rogers added a second score and that was game for Life West. Life West will play Optimus in the seeding round.


Alex Ho Photo

Rocky Mountain is still in it as well and will play ARPTC in the seeding matches. The National Development Academy closed out pool play with a 21-14 win against the Boston Belles, but the East Coasters led the first half 14-7. Jenny Kronish opened up scoring with an intercept try on ARPTC’s five meter, and then Rachael Harkavy followed with nine points: the Belles’ second try and two conversions. Autumn Locicero split Boston’s scores with one for ARPTC, and Sophie Pyrz slotted the extras.

“They threw a little bit of an attack that we weren’t used to – a bit more contact driven – and it kinda put us on our back foot,” ARPTC’s Lauren Ebeling said. “But one thing we’ve been focusing on as a squad this tournament was just backing each other and really connecting through the chaos. I think that at halftime we got our bearings together and reconnected and we were able to come out and play our systems.”


Alex Ho Photo

Locicero scored a second try on a perfect sideline offload from Georgie Perris-Redding. Pyrz converted, and repeated the two-pointer when Alli Hale raced away for the game-winner: 21-14.

“We just remained composed,” Ebeling said of the second-half comeback. I think when it gets to a tied game like that you can end up getting frantic and making errors. And there were some penalties throughout the game but I think we looked for those moments and we capitalized on them. We have really spent time this season talking about being bold and that’s been a theme for this tournament, too. We had a couple players who were bold and they found moment and capitalized on them.”

Washington AC and Optimus are representing Pool D in the Cup quarterfinals and got a good match against each other in their second games of the day. The teams scored two tries apiece, as Erica Legaspi, who has great around-the-corner speed and a deadly cutback, dotted down the game’s first two tries. Megan Sanders added one conversion. Cyndi Campbell – who is such a great playmaker – set up Adrionna Duncan for a try and then Su Adegoke just charged the line from a penalty on WAC’s 10 meter, barreling over for the try. Campbell made both conversions for the 14-12 edge into the break.


Alex Ho Photo

The home side hit a different gear in the second half and put Legaspi, Sanders, Jenny Johnson and Christa Banks into the try zone for the 32-14 win. WAC is playing Tempe in the Cup seeding matches, while Optimus sees Life West. All of the seeding match participants advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

RESULTS AFTER 3 ROUNDS

POOL A

Scion 32-0 ORSU

Scion 59-0 Santa Monica

Scion 39-0 Chicago Lions

ORSU 21-12 Chicago Lions

ORSU 29-0 Santa Monica

Chicago Lions 36-0 Santa Monica

POOL B

Life West 34-0 NOVA

Life West 19-7 Rocky MountainRocky Mountain 15-14 NOVA

POOL C

ARPTC 24-12 Tempe

ARPTC 21-14 Boston Belles

Tempe 29-19 Boston Belles

POOL D

Washington AC 38-12 Chi North Shore

Washington AC 34-14 Optimus

Optimus 17-15 Chi North Shore

CUP QF Seeding Matches

420 #58 Washington AC v Tempe

440 #61 Life West v Optimus

440 #62 ARTPC v Rocky Mountain

(Scion & ORSU advance directly to Cup QF)

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