Photo: Star Stevens
The DI Elite is at the semifinal stage of the season, and by Saturday night, the field will know its finalists. Top-seed Lindenwood University will host #4 BYU in St. Charles, Mo., at 7 p.m. CT. And #3 Life University travels to #2 Central Washington University for a 12 p.m. PT kickoff. Both games will be live-stream on For The Fans.
RELATED: DI Elite Stats & Interview Links
The day begins in Ellensburg, Wash., and this semifinal is a rematch of the most competitive game of the season. Life and Central Washington met each other three weeks ago in Marietta, Ga., and the visitors eked out a 10-5 win. Wildcats head coach Trevor Richards credited the pack with a difference-making performance, and the road win meant home-field advantage for the semifinals.
RELATED: Interviews from Mikayla Roberts, Spencer Boldt and Tessa Hann
“It was really disappointing to not come away with the win at home,” Life University co-captain Jess Keating reflected on the March 27 match. “I don’t think we played to our strengths fully. Our defense worked really well. We held them off for 40 minutes in our half, phase after phase after phase. On attack, we let ourselves down – knock-ons, missed passes – things we know we can do better at. It’s more sharpening the tools and tidying up the game than anything major.”
Life enjoyed a bit of a reprieve and sent two 7s squads to the Tropical 7s the first weekend of April. Keating, who is a 15s hooker and hails from Ireland, has little 7s experience but enjoyed the experience.
“We played each other in the final,” Keating said. “It was fun because we don’t get the opportunity to do that. We go against each other in practice and during scrimmages, but we’re never together on a stage like that, where it’s a final and we’re playing for a trophy. It was a lot of fun.”
Keating said the team regrouped a bit in Orlando, did some team-bonding activities, and just enjoyed the sun. The energy at training has been positive, and the squad is uniformly focused and motivated to return from Washington with a win.
“We need to go into the game with our minds switched on,” Keating said. “It took a few minutes in the last game, and we can’t give them that chance, because they do capitalize on our mistakes and will put points on the board.”
Approximately three hours after the Life vs. Central Washington game ends, Lindenwood and BYU will take the pitch in Missouri. These two teams also met on March 27, and the Lions won 77-5 in Provo, Utah. Lindenwood head coach Billy Nicholas worked the depth in that match, bringing players from the varsity reserves and J.V. team onto the starting line, so it’ll be interesting to see which combinations face the Cougars in the rematch.
RELATED: Interviews from Richelle Stephens, Natalie Gray & Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru
Lindenwood is heavily favored to win, but bet on a gutsy performance from BYU. The ability to travel and play rugby this season is a gift that is not lost on the Cougars – read more from Taylor Johnston and Kat Stowers – and these playing experiences will greatly benefit the younger classes propping up the program.
Saturday’s victors will advance to the May 1 national championship, which will be held at the higher seed’s home. Watch all of the action live on For The Fans.