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Life: Now We Have a Gauge

  • 22 Feb 2021
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The DIA officially kicked off last Saturday, as Life University traveled with two teams to Lindenwood University. The teams have history and heat, which made for fiery matches, but more importantly, the programs now have valuable information to guide the rest of their seasons.

RELATED: Lindenwood Goes 2-0 Against Life

The night before game day, Life held a skit competition between year-based teams, and it was fun. The team was so happy to finally travel together and bond in that way, and players brought that positive, excited vibe to the pitch.

“Really we wanted to get a good idea of where we’re at at the moment and see where we stacked up in terms of fitness, physicality and skill,” Life University head coach Chou said of objectives for Saturday. “We knew that was going to be a huge challenge.”

The JV game occurred first, and the well matched game went Lindenwood’s way, 24-15.

“Billy and I were texting afterward and saying just how happy we were that the game was competitive for both teams,” Chou said. “In the past, it’s been a little more lopsided [in Lindenwood’s favor], but both our JV squads are stronger this year. They did a good job, given it was their first hit-out against anyone other than the first side.”

RELATED: Life & Lindenwood Game-Day Rosters

Sophomore flanker Abigail Bachman captains the JV and the Fallbrook alumna did a fantastic job leading a starting roster than included eight freshmen. Sophomore scrumhalf Nina Wilson missed all of freshman year with an injury, so Saturday was the halfback’s debut as well. Bachman got good support from senior wing Malery Billingy as well as graduate student Allie Zoda in the front row.

“We are testing some first-years who have incredible physicality and the potential for the varsity side,” Chou said of player movement between JV and varsity sides. “Mercie Vivao is one player. She’s an 8 but I can see her as lock or front row for varsity. Susana Ngalu from Maui is just exceptional. We’re testing her out and getting her a lot of reps there [at prop]. She’s physical but is also great in open-field play.”

Chou also highlighted Brooklyn Vaifanua, who played flanker for J.V. and then subbed on for No. 8 Kate Buzby in the second half of the varsity game. Vivao also got about 15 minutes in the varsity game.

The varsity match started quickly, as Eagle Eti Haungatau scored for Lindenwood.

“Eti is just an exceptional, special player,” Chou praised the freshman inside center. “She’s such a threat with ball in hand, and when she does carry, she’s going to open up space everywhere else.”

The teams traded tries in the first quarter, but Lindenwood ultimately won 39-17.

“It was a gauge,” Chou said of the game and the need for work-ons. “More than anything the game taught us areas we need to pay more attention to, like ball retention, ball in contact and fighting in our ball placement, especially in the varsity game.

“If we can’t retain the ball, then we can’t score. So on attack, we need to carry hard and with purpose and with support, so that we can have another phase,” the coach continued. “There were minutes where we had some nice breaks but we couldn’t finish our breaks. Our wings were pushed out of bounds three times without the right support or right communication or right fight or footwork needed to buy time. Finishing three breaks would have been great and made for a more competitive game.”

Chou credited Lindenwood with a great defensive game, and noted that all of its DIA opponents will be opportunistic at the breakdown.

“They want to win every game that play,” Chou said of the team’s reaction to the loss. “But there’s lots of positivity and they felt pretty good about where we are. And they’re hungry to learn more and work hard.”

There were two freshmen on the starting roster – flanker Angelina Niu and outside center Queenette (“Pepe”) Toomalatai – while Vivao, Vaifanua and Alex Wantlin came on as reserves.

“I liked Alex Wantlin’s debut,” Chou said. “There was one time she kicked and she was the first person on the chase. We have a lot of speed and she outran everyone on the chase because she’s just a workhorse. She did a great job defensively, too. It’s tough to come into your first varsity game and have it be against Lindenwood, and she did so well.

“Pepe did a great job at 13 until she had to come out,” the coach continued. “She had to go up against Eti a lot, and she’s about a foot shorter than her. But she just stepped up to the challenge.”

Transfer Emerson Allen (Eckered College) and graduate student Sophie Pyrz (Penn State) debuted for the Running Eagles, as did junior Joannah Skuceck. The former Lindenwood player earned special praise for her phenomenal work on defense and tackle count. The coach was also happy to see Buzby on the pitch. The sophomore missed all of freshman year due to injury and celebrated her return with a try.

Life flanker Saher Hamdan stood out, as one might expect from from a Rugby World Cup Performance Squad member. She stole so much possession but self-assessed some needed adjustments.

“She texted me after watching the film: I did it [poaching possession] a lot but I’m running away from my support and my teammates don’t know I have [the ball],” Chou recalled the exchange. ”So she was stripping and poaching the ball, but getting separation from her teammates. We might get 10-15 meters but then we turn it right over. So we talked about how to mitigate some of that.”

Overall, Chou was happy with the team so far and looking forward to the rest of the season. The squad will retake the field on March 6 and welcome Lindenwood to Marietta, Ga., for the rematch.

Stay tuned for Lindenwood feedback on the season-opener.

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