Kuehl at 2018 nationals / Photo: Jackie Finlan
The women’s rugby calendar hasn’t completely sorted itself yet, and the month of August sees a convergence of important events on consecutive, or same, weekends. The whole summer builds to the Club 7s National Championship, but it’s bookended by the Women’s All-Star 15s Week and the National Developmental Invitational Tournament (NDIT). To boot, the NDIT and Women’s Premier League (WPL) season-openers (for eight of 10 teams) booked the same weekend. The density of events affects player availability and loyalties.
RELATED: WPL Round 1 Standings
Atlanta felt that pinch, first for club 7s nationals. The Harlequins sent players to the all-stars in Greeley, Colo., and awaited injury updates (Megan Rom) before naming its nationals roster to Kansas City. And then the NDIT took players like Cyndi Campbell and Lekia Haynes to Little Rock, as well as transfers Shamira Robles (New York) and Kelli Smith (Beantown), who haven’t been able to relocate yet. Only 19 were able to travel to Boston for Sunday’s WPL opener, including DII’s Hannah Twilley, who did a great job in the pack, and head coach Ros Chou, who added herself with the caveat, “Don’t make me play.”
“We knew traveling with 19 was going to be a gut check, so it became: What can we do to manage to get through the first game,” Chou posed.
Chukwueke at 2018 nationals / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Players stepped into unfamiliar positions with a positive attitude. Karissa Lacy, typically a hooker, moved to second row. Chi Chi Chukwueke started at lock, but a fatiguing summer of 7s and all-stars saw the standout sub out at the break. Jesah Haun, typically a loose forward, joined the second row with former Life teammate Lacy.
“There’s been a big infusion of young players in the pack, which is probably 90% different from last year,” Chou said. “With the exception of Lisa Jackson, who is flying from North Carolina every week, we were really young in the forwards.”
Naiomi Cayo-Nelson is also a veteran at 24 years old and playing in a fourth WPL season.
There’s familiarity in the back line – Mo Compito, Lara Gartner, Meredith Nelson, Corinne Heavner, Sherri Kelly and Akilah Guzman. The backs are missing Cortney Kuehl, who is finding a home at No. 8, and KB Broughton, who is heading to Glendale.
Heavner at 2018 nationals / Photo: Jackie Finlan
“KB has been ready to go to a more full-time program,” Chou said of the move to Colorado. “We had a bittersweet goodbye lunch – she’s been with us [Atlanta and Life University] for five years. That’s just one change but it’s a huge X factor player.”
And once Robles and Smith are available, they’ll add firepower to the backs.
On game day, Beantown was synced and fired up, and took a 17-point lead in the first quarter.
“After the first 20 minutes when we let in three unanswered tries, we got our bearing,” Chou highlighted Kuehl, who scored two tries on the day, and Compito for stepping up to lead and keeping the team focused on the fight. “Angie Owen also did a good job, same with Lisa Jackson. We had a shaky 15 minutes with our set piece and they both made adjustments and gave us what we needed to build a stable platform.”
There was more parity in the middle of the match, and although Beantown led 27-10 at one point, Atlanta closed in.
“We pulled with five [27-22] with about 13 minutes left. This bodes well for our season being so depleted this first game,” Chou said of the comeback. “If we can do this with all the players that showed up, then we’re going to be in good shape once we get to full strength.”
Atlanta is also looking forward to the return of Darian Lovelace, who is recovering from injury.
Beantown added one more try through Amanda Schweitzer and difference-makers like Claire Stingley made smart adjustments on defense to account for some of Atlanta’s offensive threats. The home side won 32-22.
RELATED: Interview with Beantown head coach Tadhg Leader
“They’re competitors so they’ll look at the result and wish it was different. But under the circumstances … I’m really happy with what I saw,” Chou said.
It was stressful fielding a full roster but it was also a fulfilling outing for Chou as a coach. The roster was dense with recent Life graduates, and the Running Eagles coach is in a place to ease their transition to adult rugby.
“Karen Faget and Jesah Haun and Karissa Lacy – they obviously have worked together quite a bit at Life, so at a matriarchal level, it was cool to see them in the WPL,” Chou said. “Bridget Kahele, too, who went up against her old [AIC] coach, Tara Roberts, at 9. The next generation is coming up and getting their feet wet at the next level, adjusting to the pace and physicality, and it was great seeing them hang in there and do well.”
Atlanta will host New York, which enjoyed a bye week last round, at home and look to rebound. Beantown will play Twin Cities, which lost to Chicago North Shore 31-10, at home.
WPL #Atlanta