Life University advances to the 2021 DI Elite National Championship after defeating Central Washington University 29-20 in today’s semifinal. The Running Eagles will face the winner of Lindenwood University and BYU, a game that takes place at 7 p.m. CT tonight, April 17.
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The win salved the disappointment that came with the 10-5 loss to the Wildcats on March 27 – an outcome that afforded Central Washington home-field advantage for the semifinals. Both teams made adjustments for the rematch, and the result produced a more dynamic game from both sides.
Life University head coach Ros Chou explained that the team had three areas of focus for the semifinal: playing in the right parts of the field, launching true on defense, and winning the collision.
“The last game we didn’t manage our zones very well and didn’t make the right decisions to get out of our own end,” Chou said. “I was happy with the kicking game today. Technically, we still need different types of kicks, but they chose the right times to kick.”
Captains Sydnee Cervinski and Jess Keating, and center Alex Wantlin drove the kicking game. Central Washington had good coverage with its back three, and Maryjane Pasioles, who moved from flyhalf to fullback, as well as Spencer Boldt and Sammy Stern, was particularly effective. But Life relieved pressure when in its own end and didn’t kick away good attacking opportunities.
Life’s kicks to touch were generally more successful than Central Washington’s kicks, and that distance was important in the first half. The Wildcats played a good amount of defense and committed a lot of penalties, and Aly Namosimalua was eventually sin binned late in the first half. On two occasions, a Central penalty was followed by a nicely placed kick to the Wildcats’ 10 meter, and then a solid lineout and driving maul put down tries. That’s how prop Kayla Pemasa scored the opening try, and how Keating scored the final try of the half.
Life scored three tries in the first half, and the first two of the game. Fullback Sophie Pyrz scored after Life stole a Central Washington scrum and then a very quick attack punctuated by nice offloads through traffic ended in the try zone.
“For us we wanted to make a statement right away and come out of the gate, because we’ve had a hard time transitioning from the warm-up in the beginning of games,” Chou said of taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. “For them, it was confidence, knowing that what they’ve been working on for the last two weeks was working.”
But Central looked dangerous throughout the entire game. The home side was able to gain through the middle of the pitch and run mobile pods off the breakdown. And then when the ball moved wide, Stern and Namosimalua could really motor. But the real X factor was Pasioles at fullback. She’s been at flyhalf all season and makes a nice team with Spencer Boldt at scrumhalf, but the degree of her dynamism was put into perspective once she was given more time with the ball.
One of Pasioles’ kicks trickled deep into Life’s end and re-established play in good attacking position. Flanker Tessa Hann took a flat pass at pace and broke away, and a few recycles later, Namosimalua powered into the corner for the try. At that point, it was 10-5, and then Keating’s try and conversion gave Life the 17-5 lead right before the break.
“We talked about how we could roll in subs that would bring us up, so we needed a few positions to hold out as long as they could and then we’d bring in pace – like Su [Adegoke], who made a big difference, and same with Malery [Billingy], who goes step for step for Adrionna [Duncan],” Chou recounted the halftime talk. “In years past, we didn’t have a bench that we could rely on being so strong tactically. Allie Zoda was exceptional – immediately winning scrums and putting in big hits.
“And then it was: Continue to play in the same parts of the field and empty the tank and then you’ll be replaced,” the coach added. “But we knew it was going to go to the wire because this team doesn’t lie down.”
Within seven minutes, Central had narrowed the lead to 17-15. Two minutes after the break, Pasioles was in the try zone. The fullback had collected a Life clearance and the Wildcats’ counterattacked moved swiftly through the backs. As the recycle came back across the pitch, Pasioles floated behind the ruck and then inserted at the right time for a drive over the line, 17-10.
Life then committed three-straight penalties, and Boldt did an excellent job of quick-tapping through the mark to keep the pressure on. The Wildcats were ready, too, and there was no confusion or hesitation in the attack that followed. Haley Abeyta carried hard toward the try line to get close, and then fast hands found Lauren Odette on the overload for the score, 17-15.
“Actually, no,” Chou said of any signs of nerves when the Wildcats put down two quick tries. “Which is surprising since I have a relatively young team. Earlier in the season, in the try zone after they were scored on, you’d see them with their heads down and that body language of frustration and not knowing what to do. But their game management was good and they kept the attack really tight to control the pace of the game [later in the match].”
Subs started taking the pitch, and they made an immediate impact. From a scrum in Life’s end, reserve Adegoke came around the scrum and inserted beside Cervinski, taking the pass back inside and tearing into open space. The try-scorer powered through a few defenders before adding five points. Keating kicked a second conversion for the 24-15 lead.
The Wildcats went back to work and a lovely pass from Pasioles over the defense to Philomena Namosimalua saw the freshman make good ground out wide. The subsequent ruck was turned over, but then Central Washington captain Mikayla Roberts pounced on a loose ball. She ramped up to speed very quickly and beat the trailing defense to the try line, 24-20.
“We have the highest respect for Central as a program,” Chou said of expecting a comeback. “We knew we had to continue with our game plan.”
There were still 15 minutes of play remaining and both sides had opportunities to score. As the clock wore down, Central got into a long series of phases, although the gains started to stagnate as the team approached Life’s 40 meter. Boldt eventually kicked from the base but the chase wasn’t on and Adegoke countered well.
The game was back on Central’s 20 meter and with no time on the clock, wing Autumn Locicero fought into the corner for the game-ending try: 29-20 the final.
“Jess Keating and Sydnee Cervinski – those two captains did a great job managing the game,” Chou called out standouts. “We expected 80 minutes out of them and they did it with cool heads the whole time.
“We were disappointed that Sylina Flowers, our other captain, was injured,” the coach said of the senior halfback. “Tatum Johnson has been at center all year and then it was, ‘Tatum, go play scrumhalf for the semifinal,’ and she did a great job. She’s just so vocal and smart she led that team for over a half.”
Chou also praised freshman Pepe Toomalatai, who was tasked with a tough job in the centers and gave a stellar performance on the day.
The team will now watch the Lindenwood vs. BYU match at 7 p.m. CT in anticipation of the national championship on May 1.