(These notes will be used in larger pieces for the “free” side of the site.)
Photo: Jackie Finlan
Tries: Baker 5, McFadyen 2, Hood 2, Ah Quin, Taito, Taufa, Peterson, Patton, Gubler
Cons: McFadyen 7, Peterson
As expected in this DI Elite vs. DI Spring match-up, the former was much stronger in every aspect of the game. ASU, which filled in for Washington State after the Pacific Northwest Cougars declined its berth to Provo, played defense for much of the game, and when the Sun Devils did have the opportunity to attack, BYU’s pressure defense forced turnovers. Flanker Grace Taito in open play and scrumhalf Brooklyn Grange off the scrum set that tone, and the team was very good about quickly moving the ball away from the turnover and attacking a slowly adjusting defense.
In the forwards, lock Gabrielle Peterson carried well and even added a nice conversion late in the game, much to the sideline’s glee. But really the whole pack was good about getting through the first tackler and then looking for the pass. In the backs, outside center Kat Stowers, the former United scrumhalf, deployed an excellent kicking game that put fast players like wing Emily McFadyen, the conversion kicker, into space and with room to sprint.
It wasn’t a perfect outing, as some drizzle saw some handling errors and penalties halt some drives, but there can’t be too many complaints. The bench began to clear around minute 65, and the Cougars will ready for UC Davis in Saturday’s DI Elite/DI Spring quarterfinal. Watch live-stream for free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI0VA-6uBIc.
This game wasn’t a given. Even though UC Davis is the two-time reigning DI spring champion, it took time for the Aggies to look like a title-contending team. There were some key injuries but also graduations of incomparable players, like Sydnee Watanabe, among others. But by the time UC Davis got the PMRC seeding tournament, it was starting to resemble its old self, as demonstrated by its first win over Stanford this year.
In contrast, Grand Canyon is only in its second competitive season, having graduated from DII this year. The Antelopes returned the vast majority of its 2017 team and leaned on that chemistry when winning the DI Gold Coast.
Davis during PMRC tournament / Photo: Jackie Finlan
In the first 30 minutes, UC Davis scored 36 points through Prai Harris, Cecilia Flores (2), Brenda Erickson, Brianna August and Kat Thompson tries, and three Rebeca Lehman conversions. Grand Canyon got on the board before the half as Julian White dotted down (36-5 HT) and opened up the second half with a Natasha Opoku try. But four more tries from the Aggies put the game well out of reach, 58-17 the final.
UC Davis and BYU will play in Saturday’s DI Elite/DI Spring quarterfinal, which will be live-streamed free of charge here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI0VA-6uBIc.
The Life University Athletics Department wrote up the Round of 16 shutout: read more.