In a game that was dominated by the Penn State defense it was fitting that one of our best defenders was named the MVP. The fact that she scored 2 tries was just icing on the cake! Deven partnered with Meghan Byrnes and provided a wall that Stanford’s excellent centers struggled to break.
Deven is relatively new to the game of rugby. In recent years Penn State has been getting players that played in High School that provide tremendous experience. In the back line that started the final only 2 players did not play rugby in high school and Deven was one (Kasey Ferlic was the other). Deven’s rise in rugby has been nothing short of remarkable. Taking up the game in January of 2009, it was only a freak sickness to a player that allowed her to make the springbreak trip where she began to challenge for a starting position at wing. Remarkably 3 months after she took up the game she was starting at wing for Penn State while we won the 2009 National Championship.
Deven is a natural tackler and from the start defense was her signature. With the loss of All-American Lauren Rosso from the 2009 team, Deven seemed to be the natural replacement. Outside center is the most difficult defensive position in the backline, and it is especially true in the defense that Penn State plays. Often it is the outside center that is hitting the ball carrier and preventing the ball from moving out to the backs.
This season Deven has been having more of an impact on attack, and really demonstrated her athleticism and skills in the final. The finish of her second half, which included a dummy, showed what she can do in the open field.
While there were many players that could have won the MVP (Lisa Henneman and Annie Zeigler were two strong candidates) it was fitting that the best defender on the best defensive team, that held a high scoring Stanford team to only one try, should be named.
