ELLENSBURG, WASH. – The Central Washington University women's rugby team travels to Greenville, South Carolina for the semifinal round of the D1 Elite National Championship against Lindenwood on Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
Sunday (March 24) | 8:00 a.m. PST
vs. Furman University
Greenville, SC
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"This will be the third time we've played Lindenwood this season," CWU Head Coach
Trevor Richards said. While they're the favorites, being the top ranked team, we certainly have closed the gap that was evident in the fall. They're a well-oiled machine with talented athletes and they can punish you from anywhere if you give them half a chance. With that said, I'm enjoying the rugby we've been playing as of late. Our attacking and defensive systems are being executed better, the team is playing for each other, and the energy this week has been great. If we can disrupt their flow and win the point of contact, it's going to be a battle to the end. We're all very excited to get this show on the road."
SCOUTING LINDENWOOD
The Lions reopened their spring season on February 23, when they hosted the Wildcats. The Lions disposed of the Wildcats 39-5. Samantha Tancredi gave the Lions a lead when she broke free on a 60-meter run. McKenzie Hawkins added the conversion for a 7-0 score.
The advantage increased when Lindenwood executed a nifty hands-out wide for senior Tiffany Person who finished a try in the corner. Despite the sharp angle, McKenzie slotted the uprights for a 14-0 lead. Her excellent foot skills continued when she booted a cross-field kick that Casey Karl dotted down. Another McKenzie conversion made it 21-0, the Wildcats broke the shutout late in the half for a 21-5 score at the break.
Lightning delayed the start of the second half, but when the match resumed, the Lions continued to play well, with all 23 rostered players seeing time on the pitch. Lindenwood continued to stress the Central Washington defense, which led to another 18 unanswered points. Hawkins scored the first three on a penalty kick, and then Meg Gold went back-to-back before Nika Paogofie-Buyten scored the final try of the game.
LAST TIME OUT
The Central Washington University women's rugby team hosted the Brigham Young University Cougars in their final home fixture. The Wildcats celebrated senior day in style, as they caged the Cougars 42-12.
The Wildcats snagged their first try just five minutes into the game.
Suiluana Sooialo A'au took the ball and bowled through a handful of Cougar defenders to give the Wildcats a 5-0 lead. Central's defense started out just as hot as their offense and gave the Cougars little to no room to do anything.
The Wildcats were able to take the ball away and went on to capitalize.
Lauren Odette was able to get the ball past the try line to increase the Wildcat lead to 10-0. Central continued to put pressure on the ball on the defensive side and continuously moved the ball down the pitch each possession.
Mae Sagapolu got in on the scoring after she ran through a pair of BYU defenders and with the help of one of her teammates was able to dive in for her first try of the game.
Olivia Kauahi got in on the action with a try of her own after snagging a loose ball and flying down the sideline into the corner for her first try.
Spencer Boldt also got her first try in the game in the first half after some smooth passing from the Wildcat offense allowed her to walk the ball in for a try. The Wildcats led 25-0 at halftime.
The second half picked up right where they left off.
Leah Marie Ingold was able to take the ball away from a BYU player and then ran past everyone on the field. She collected her first try of the game. Ingold would make the conversion kick, putting the Wildcats up 32-5.
At the 58
th minute mark the Wildcat defense made an impressive effort keeping the Cougars out of the try zone even though they were just meters away. Central was able to take the ball away and march down the field.
Sui A'au was able to drag a pair of defenders with her for her second try of the match. The score stood at 37-5 at the 64
th minute after. Both teams went quiet after this for about six minutes when the Cougars were able to grab their second try of the game. The Cougars trailed the Wildcats 37-12.
Maryjane Pasioles sealed the deal in the 76
th minute when she gets her first try off of a restart and blew past the Cougar defense to make it a 42-12 Wildcat lead. A score that remained the same until the final whistle.
