Photos: Anne-Marie Lemal Brown
As the semifinalists took the pitch during the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) National 7s Championship, there was a level of familiarity. Three of those 7s teams had featured in the fall 15s national final four, and now five months later, they convened in Pittsburgh for a shot at another trophy. But the spring added a new name to the record books, as Colgate dethroned three-time reigning 7s champion Wayne State 15-12 in the final.
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When longtime coach Anne-Marie Lemal Brown (who was in Pittsburgh and supplied all of the photos) relocated to Ohio after the fall season, Colgate men’s coach David Chapman stepped in. He had helped the women’s team in the past, and the spring transition season focused on learning each individual’s style. The team won the Upstate New York conference, and thus a berth to the 7s national championship, and also warmed up at the Can Am 7s.
“We felt prepared heading in,” Chapman said. “There were a lot of teams we didn’t know much about … but we were going in focused on the execution of our game plan and style.
“We’re not the biggest team,” the coach continued. “In 15s, it can be a bit of a struggle, but I think Colgate is really made for the 7s style, which is very strong individual, technical skills and a higher-paced game. We try to run-and-gun and spread the ball.”
Captains Meghan Pane and Natalie Smith led the team into the championship weekend, which began with Iowa’s Simpson College, a 7s-only program coached by Kelsie McDowell. Colgate made life difficult for itself, nearing 10 penalties in the first half. Those infractions, mostly around the breakdown, would hamper the team throughout the day and became a major focal point on day two. Nonetheless, some breaks on turnovers and penalties allowed Colgate to win 24-17.
The second game against Endicott was an equal contest in the first half, but then a lightning delay paused the match for two hours.
“If there was ever a time to pray for rain, this was it,” said Chapman, who used that break to work through those elements hindering the team’s game. “We were able to put some of the pieces of the puzzle together during the break … and it flipped a switch on defense. They finally understood what we’ve trying to do the last couple of months. Now it was just about execution on offense.”
Colgate regrouped for a 22-7 win over Endicott and finished the day with a 33-0 victory over Neumann, moving the ball to its fastest players out wide. The Cup quarterfinals rounded out day one, and the New York team faced Pennsylvania’s York College.
“That game was a nerve-racker. I lost a little more hair than normal in that one,” Chapman said. “Having seen them play against Wayne State in their final pool match, we were preparing for a more physical match. We knew it was going to be brawl.”
Again, Colgate took advantage of some turnovers and penalties and triumphed 19-12 for the final four berth.
That night, the team reviewed its performance and formed three areas of focus for day two:
Reduce penalties, especially around the breakdown; remain dedicated to a pressure defense; and continue building continuity in attack with a solid support game.
“In the first half, no, they did not,” Chapman said of whether the team adhered to its goals during Sunday’s semifinal against Lee, a familiar face from the fall 15s final four.
Colgate trailed 10-0 as the half approached, but gained some ground on a long breakaway that was followed by a high tackle penalty, phases, and a try (10-5).
“There was very little tactical talk during the half,” Chapman said. “They knew they weren’t playing to their potential and Lee was taking advantage of it. It was, ‘Time to wake up,’ talk instead, and sure enough, it was a whole other team in the second half.”
Two tries from Ciara Pettinos, one of the leading try-scorers on the day, put Colgate into the final with a 19-17 win. Pettinos is also the team’s conversion kicker and the championship MVP was named to the all-tournament team. The finisher became the final Canterbury College Player of the Week for April and is in the running for Player of the Month (voting begins tomorrow).
Wayne State College awaited. The Wildcats have won three-straight NSCRO 7s national titles and faced Colgate in the 15s national final last fall.
“In our style of defense, we wanted to apply as much pressure as possible, and having seen Wayne State’s pocket-style offense, that played into our hands,” Chapman said.
The game opened with Wayne State on the attack, working the ball from sideline to sideline, while Colgate’s defenders in the middle of the field realized how important they were to the system. They stuck their tackles and a dropped ball shifted possession. Colgate marched down the field and took a quick-tap penalty five meters across the try line.
“That first try was definitely a relief,” Chapman said. “The 15s championship in the fall was a shutout [loss], so it was a pride thing for the ladies. They took it personally. They could also breathe a bit. Up until then, they thought they could win this game, but now they knew they could.”
As Wayne State upped its fight in the rucks, Colgate’s support remained strong, and a couple of penalties set up the team’s second try. The Wildcats answered before the break. Halftime adjustments included fewer pick-and-goes so as to lessen the pressure on offensive support, more passing, and continued defensive pressure.
The teams traded tries in the final minute of play, and Colgate’s three tries to Wayne State’s two (and conversion) afforded the 15-12 win.
“There was a lot of confusion at the end of the game, because the score was so close and we didn’t know how much time was left,” Chapman said. “I asked one of my players for the time, and to see the tears coming to her eyes – it was very moving. It meant a lot to them.
“The senior group has been very influential the last few years, and having multiple opportunities at a national championship is very rare,” the coach said of the six graduating players and even more back in New York. “To pull it off in their last tournament was amazing.”
After an eight-hour drive back to New York, the team arrived to the rest of the team holding a congratulations banner and singing songs – the perfect welcome home after a championship weekend.
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