Maddie Rose v Mexico / Photos: Jackie Finlan
The USA and Canada will contest the Rugby Americas North qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games on Saturday. The teams met Friday morning during the round robin portion of the tournament, and Canada won 14-5. The USA then rebounded with a 53-0 semifinal win over Mexico to earn a berth to the final inside Sam Boyd Stadium.
The Americans dictated the first seven minutes against Canada, keeping play in the visitors’ end. Approximately two minutes in, Eti Haungatau could have barreled her way into the try zone, but instead of risking a hand beneath the grounding, she sent a one-handed spin pass to Sacramento Amazons teammate Lote Tausinga out wide for the try, 5-0.
“We were really happy with the girls’ intensity, especially in the first half,” USA Girls Head Coach Emilie Bydwell said. “We spoke a lot last night about doing the work off the ball – to realign and apply pressure on defense, and then reload so we can attack on multiple phases.”
Canada responded in the second half and held onto much of the possession. Two converted tries followed – one a long-range breakaway, the second after some nifty passing to keep the ball alive and stress the scrambling defense.
The USA entered the semifinals as the second seed and played #3 Mexico. In the teams’ first meeting, the USA won 41-0 and did 12 points better in the rematch. Clara Lemal-Brown (2), Taylor Marasco, Susan Adegoke (2), Ariana Ramsey, Cecelia Pennell, Alex DiMarco and Eti Haungatau scored tries, while DiMarco and Pennell shared the conversions, 53-0.
After each score, Bydwell and sideline were instructing players to hurry and reset and get ready to play.
“It’s more of a mindset thing,” Bydwell explained. “We don’t know how the game’s going to go tomorrow. [Canada] could score three tries in the first half and we could be down 21-0 into the second half and the girls need to be able to work with the mindset that they get back, reload and play. … We need to be able to play with the intent that we need to win tomorrow.”
Even though the USA won comfortably, the semifinal did provide plenty of information for improvements.
“Mexico showed us some stuff. They played out of their end well, we gave up a few penalties – all stuff that we need to develop within that,” Bydwell said. “Especially in this age group, being disciplined and being composed and controlled and aware of what you’re doing is so important that ultimately we’ll gain benefit regardless of whoever we play.”
If the USA vs. Canada round-robin game is any indicator of what’s to come, then another thriller is awaiting Sam Boyd Stadium Saturday. But building up for a single game can be tough.
“I think they did well today because they came out and won the first half against Canada,” Bydwell trusted that the team could get up for a single match. “We’ve been structured in our process. Been telling them: Trust the process. Trust the process. So we’re going to use the same exact process and then it’s on everyone to show up. Our theme tomorrow is ‘overachieving at your role,’ so regardless of what it is, you do it the best you can.”
Bydwell indicated that the team is in a good place after the semifinal, “which was all about them building their composure and their confidence in being clinical,” the coach said. The final occurs Saturday at 11:00 a.m. PST inside Sam Boyd Stadium.
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