Knoxville is the Newcomer to South Champs

The South Conference DII Club Championship (May 6-7) returns three of four 2016 participants: current titleholder Charlotte (South #1), Carolinas runner-up Augusta (South #2) and Florida champ Fort Miami (South #4). Knoxville is the newcomer, replacing Nashville as the True South representative, and earned the berth with a thriller against the Stone Lions in last weekend’s championship.

Knoxville captain Kristen Coulston joined the team back in 2012, which marked the last time the Minx advanced to the South championship. Coulston is one of three current members who has played at the regional tournament (one player is a Nashville transfer), but the team still has good experience.

“About half of the starters have been playing together since college,” Coulston said. “A lot of us went to [University of Tennessee – Knoxville], which has been a feeder program the past couple of years. So chemistry wise, half of the starters have about five years together.”

When Andrew Perlmutter took over as head coach in fall 2016, he introduced new systems that played to the smaller, faster team’s attributes. It took some time to get comfortable, as demonstrated during a six-point loss to Nashville in the fall, but started to click in the New Year. When Perlmutter reported to basic training for the spring, assistant coach Erin Monroe, captain Coulston and forwards captain Keshia Mihalik oversaw the team’s growth, and the Minx enjoyed a confidence-boosting friendly win over Nashville in advance of the playoffs.

Knoxville played Louisiana Lagniappe in the True South semifinals. The Minx built a 12-0 lead on tries from fullback Anastasia Sharp (wing Lauren Kimmerly converted) and flanker Regina Durkan, but then Lagniappe put down two scores before the break, 12-10 to Knoxville. Second-half subs made a big difference as Chloe Harper and Morgan Alston both scored. Durkan split those two tries – scored within seven minutes of each other – with her second. Kimmerly handled the extras for the 29-10 win.

On the other side of the bracket, Nashville needed a big gut check as Memphis rallied in the fourth quarter, but the Stone Lions held on for the 29-28 semifinal win and trip to the final.

“We have a good relationship with Nashville,” Coulston spoke to the finalists’ relationship. “Back before I joined, we were all one team – Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga – because none of the teams had enough players to stand alone. We still carry that spirit with us. Most of our union is pretty close.”

Nashville scored early on and that 5-0 scoreline held for 30 minutes. As the half neared, Sharp, Harper and No. 8 Vivian Swayne scored tries, and Kimmerly added the all-important conversions for a 21-5 halftime lead.

“Since we play them all the time we know which players to look out for and their style of play,” Coulston said. “Leading up to playing them, we directed practice toward defending what we throught they’d probably do.

“We kind of have similar styles of play,” the outside center added. “They have a very shifty scrumhalf who keeps the game interesting.”

That shifty scrumhalf is none other than former Eagle Pat Neder, who scored two tries during the first 10 minutes of the second half, 21-19. The teams traded tries the next 10 minutes (Knoxville got its score from prop Chelsea Robl), but Nashville’s successful conversion made it 26-all.

At minute 68, impact sub Alston scored her second try of the weekend, and Kimmerly slotted what ended up being the winning points. Nashville still had gas in the tank and scored with approximately five minutes remaining, but Knoxville’s defense held, 33-31 to the Minx.

“We knew going into [the final] that it was probably going to be a toss-up,” Coulston confirmed that the team had expected the fight. “I didn’t even know the score at the end; I just knew it was close.”

Coulston confessed that the team had a really hard time naming MVPs, but flyhalf Haley Forman, lock Amy Satkowiak and Kimmerly – especially her boot – had standout performances.

Knoxville will now travel to Ormond Beach, Fla., next weekend and play Carolinas runner-up Augusta in the South Championship semifinals. Charlotte and Ft. Miami will contest the other final four match. Saturday’s two victors will meet on Sunday and play for a berth to the DII national championship quarterfinals, the eastern portion of which will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., on May 20-21.

“I think our team plays best when we’re having fun,” Coulston said. “It’s just about getting people in that mentality of having fun but working hard. We’re going to go out there and play our game.”