Buonopane represented the Falcons in Las Vegas and Vancouver.
The USA Falcons finished third at the Vancouver Rugby Fest, matching South Africa Select’s 3-3 record but falling one point short in point differential in the standings. That said, the U.S. developmental side finished with a strong 26-10 win over the South African representative side to end the two-day tournament on a good note.
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Much like the Las Vegas Invitational 7s team, the USA Falcons merged young, capped USA 7s players with those deeper in the talent pool. Bulou Mataitoga and Kelsi Stockert served as impact subs during the USA Women’s 7s team’s Las Vegas 7s campaign and were clear leaders in Vancouver. Mataitoga was good around the breakdown and in serving as playmaker, and Stockert was superb with ball in hand and bouncing out of contact. Stockert scored four tries in the final two matches.
Chula Vista residents Nicole Strasko and Megan Foster were also stabilizing forces on the pitch. Strasko’s physical presence was felt throughout, but the Life University grad was also good in support and had the speed to finish in the corner. The prop scored three tries in the final two games. Foster was especially key at flyhalf, sending dependable passes through the hands and aiding that fast, wide game the Falcons attempted to play. She was also solid in her conversions.
Sarah Buonopane, who was capped in Sydney, showed the work rate and breakdown feistiness that have typified the Northeast product. Megan Sanders, an important leader for Atavus in Las Vegas, was very good on the restarts. Jennine Duncan, a new face who currently plays with the Seattle Saracens, played alongside Sanders in Las Vegas and showed a good burst of speed along the sideline as she continues to learn the game.
This tournament was very beneficial for the non-senior players who came out of the high school and collegiate ranks. Summit High School’s Cassidy Bargell and SacPal Amazons’ Maryjane Pasioles played against women vying for national team selection. Life West’s Mata Hingano, and Central Washington’s Nate Serevi and Sui A’au all have national age-grade experience and injected power onto the pitch. Unfortunately the tournament ended with Serevi being helped off the field with a lower-extremity injury.
The Maple Leafs ruled the day, as they did in the Las Vegas Invitational, with a 6-0 record. The Falcons dropped 29-5 and 24-5 decisions to the hosts, scoring two of the three tries that the Maple Leafs allowed all tournament. The Falcons posted two shutouts against the Stars, which is a U.S.-based program but features international players, and split games with the South Africa Selects.
In other U.S. news, the Washington Loggers rallied from their 1-2 day one, where Tahi Kaha (the LVI Girls High School Elite runner-up) proved the most dominant team in the field. The Loggers went 3-0 on day two to finish second overall on point differential. Central Washington bowed out at the Women’s Open semifinals with a 22-5 loss to BC Rugby.
For full results from all divisions, visit the tournament site here. Please note that score reporting has conflicted with teams’ reports.