Paogofie-Buyten at the 2017 LVI / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Lindenwood University is pushing itself this LVI and leaving the collegiate ranks for the Women’s Open 7s division. Head coach Billy Nicholas is bringing a relatively young yet experienced team to Las Vegas, with eight underclassmen on the 12-player roster.
The St. Charles, Mo., program has developed arguably the best international rugby networks among U.S. women’s colleges, and freshmen Kodi Barlow (New Zealand), Veteronnica Tafito (Australia) and Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru (New Zealand) will join sophomores Teresa Bueso-Gomez (Spain) and Caring De Freitas (Venezuela). The fourth freshman, Meg Gold, is familiar, hailing from Idaho Falls but gaining more exposure through Utah and Atavus 7s squads.
There is a ton of physicality on this team, and lone senior Ariana Lewis and sophomore Joyce Taufa will set a bone-crunching example. Sophomore Nika Paogofie-Buyten and junior Casey Karl have great set-up and breakaway ability, so watch for them in open space.
The most recognizable players are USA-capped Annakaren Pedraza and All-American McKenzie Hawkins, and the juniors will be massively influential in the Lions’ success in Vegas.
Lindenwood played a mostly 15s fall schedule, but traveled to New York 7s in late November. The team won the Women’s Elite Plate against the Northeast Academy. As the Lions build toward the DI Elite 15s National Championship, the squad will keep its 7s form by competing at the Tropical 7s (Fla.), Life 7s (Ga.), USA Rugby College 7s National Championship (Colo.) and CRC 7s (Pa.).
LVI games will be contested Thursday-Friday, March 1-2 at the Silver Bowl Complex adjacent to Sam Boyd Stadium. For more information on the LVI – schedules, scores, pools – visit www.lvirugby.com.
LINDENWOOD @ LVI 7s
Barlow, Kodi – Freshman
Bueso-Gomez, Teresa – Sophomore
De Freitas, Caring – Sophomore
Gold, Meg – Freshman
Hawkins, McKenzie – Junior
Karl, Casey – Junior
Lewis, Ariana – Senior
Paogofie-Buyten, Nika – Sophomore
Pedraza, Annakaren – Junior
Tafito, Veteronnica – Freshman
Tarau-Peehikuru, Sativa – Freshman
Taufa, Joyce – Sophomore
