2018 national finalists reunite / Photo: Jackie Finlan
San Diego and New York play their first games of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) season and thus draw the most interest in week two. Chicago North Shore and Berkeley get the byes.
RELATED: WPL Point-Scorers
It’s no secret that the addition of Life West has upped the intensity of the West Conference, the proof being the Gladiatrix’s 22-point win over Glendale in week one. The Merlins now head to San Diego and they bring a strong, full roster to take on the reigning WPL and club 7s national champion.
“The overlap in 7s has been a challenge and we haven’t had a great deal of time together, but the good news is most of our 7s players have already been in our system for several seasons now and they’re coming into WPL season well conditioned,” San Diego coach Jarrod Faul reviewed the squad.
“We have also acquired Evi Ashenbrucker [New York], Gen Quirion [Harvard], Ashlee Byrge [WCAP], Kimber Rozier [Beantown] and Rian Van Nordheim [D.C.],” the coach added. “We are excited to see what this experienced group of talent brings to the program.”
RELATED: See the San Diego vs. Glendale roster
Byrge and Rozier aren’t on this week’s roster but they’ll appear in the back line when they debut. Keri Adams has joined the coaching staff and is charged with the forwards. He’ll connect with USA 15s captain Kate Zackary, who’s back at flanker. Eagle prop and new mom Jamila Reinhardt featured at the Armed Forces 7s Championship this summer and is looking good back in the front row. The back line looks familiar, the exception being club 7s MVP Teigan MacDonald sliding from wing to scrumhalf.
Glendale is also familiar to week one with only one change to the pack: Charlotte Thompson replaces Joanna McElroy in the second row. The back line has made four changes to the starting lineup. Week one reserves Carly Waters and Brazil’s Beatriz Amaral get the start at scrumhalf and wing, respectively; and wing Nichole Wanamaker and inside center Hannah Tennant are back from the NDIT in Little Rock last weekend.
Glendale vs. San Diego is a classic match-up and the last time these two teams saw each other was in the 2018 national final. Looking forward to this one.
Wanamaker is back from the NDIT / Photo: Jackie Finlan
On the other side of the West Conference, Life West enjoys its home opener on Treasure Island and for a second week in a row ORSU is back in the bay. The Jesters traveled light last weekend against Berkeley and Saturday they’ll be facing a team eager to make a statement in its debut season. Gladiatrix are favored in this match-up.
Both West Conference games occur at 1 p.m. PT Saturday, as does the Atlanta vs. New York game (4 p.m. ET) in the East Conference. This game, too, draws interest as the Harlequins are eager to regroup after a 10-point road loss to Beantown last weekend. Atlanta, like any team, is stronger at home and has players back in some familiar positions.
RELATED: Atlanta vs. New York rosters
With the exception of Raleigh transfer Lisa Jackson, the entire pack has Life University lineage. Is there anywhere else in the country where collegians spend 4-5 years in a DI Elite or NCAA program and then transition to the WPL so seamlessly? The proof is in Atlanta’s roster.
That roster is relatively young in terms of WPL experience, and while the Quins will be missing players like Mo Compito, players like Meredith Nelson, Lara Gartner and Maggie Craig represent veteran perspective.
Jenn Salomon captains New York / Photo: Jackie Finlan
New York is traveling light and the roster currently features 18 players, including head coach Tiffany Faaee (!). Atlanta head coach Ros Chou was also rostered last weekend – although she deliberately left her boots in the car – to account for players missing for NDIT and injury. New York had several players on the Northeast Academy team that played in Little Rock last weekend, and that no doubt affected this weekend’s availability.
New York has added Chloe Jex, who debuted in the WPL last year with the D.C. Furies, which were relegated to Division I after losing the challenge match to Life West. Since then, Jex has drawn attention with ARPTC and at the WPL All-Stars, so watch for the powerful No. 8 to keep growing in the elite league.
Jex at ’18 nationals with D.C. / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Penn State grad Gianna Solomon played all summer with New York and will now debut in the WPL, as will Claremont Colleges graduate Dana Alimena, who is from Pennsylvania and started playing rugby with Doylestown in high school. Both players represented the Collegiate All-Americans during Women’s All-Star Week and played beside each other in the loose forwards.
Road games are tough, especially when traveling light and especially early in the season, so if Atlanta can keep the pace high and push it through minute 80, then the Harlequins could take the East’s traditional leader.
On Sunday, Twin Cities travels to Beantown for the teams’ second game of the season. The Amazons dropped a 31-10 decision to East newcomer Chicago North Shore in week one, and Beantown opened with a 32-22 win over Atlanta. Rosters haven’t been posted for this match, but again, early in the season, odds favor the home side for all the obvious reasons. Not that we don’t love an upset.
Stay tuned for coverage.