Stanford, Ca. – Penn State is heading to its ninth-consecutive national championship game, having defeated Virginia in the Round of 4, 34-15, on Friday. The Lady Ruggers overcame a physical contest from the Cavaliers in order to advance to the final on Saturday.
Kick-off is slated for 2 PM (PST) at Steuber Stadium, where the Lions will face the United States Military Academy (Army). Army won in an exciting finish against Cougar Women’s Rugby, 31-20, to advance.
USA Rugby will be streaming the championship live at http://www.ustream.tv/usarugby.
The match-up marks the first time that the Black Knights have reached the championship contest.
Both squads have met a few times in previous USA Rugby National Championship Series, with Penn State claiming each match.
2006 – Penn State 24, Army 10 – Round of 8
2007 – Penn State 17, Army 12 – Round of 8
2010 – Penn State 30, Army 13 – Round of 4
Friday’s game against Virginia saw four different ruggers cross the try line on the day. Captain Sadie Anderson accounted for over half of the teams points, notching a total of 18 for Penn State. The flyhalf dotted down two tries, slotted a penalty, and converted on three tries for her contributions.
Other try-scores for Penn State included Lock Rebecca Koons, wing Lauren Barber, and replacement-lock Kyle Armstrong.
Along with physical play, Virginia also was able to demonstrate its speed, out-distancing Penn State for every score. Each try came as the result of breaks from 30-meters or more.
The Cavaliers struck first in the game with the speed of wing Erica Cavanaugh capping off a 60-meter run. The Lions were able to respond with three tries of their own before center Sharlyn Carter scampered 30 meters to add another score for Virginia. The try concluded the half, with Penn State ahead 21-10.
It wouldn’t be until midway through the second half before Anderson was able to re-open the scoring with her penalty kick. Cavanaugh returned the points minutes later with a 50-meter break around the end.
A yellow card was issued to Virginia flanker Mary Anderson for repeat offenses of losing her at the breakdown. Penn State capitalized from the player advantage, closing out the game with two tries in the final eight minutes.
Penn State: 1. Katie Sullivan (Poole @ 65) 2. Kathleen Shissler (Boff @ 62) 3. Kay Onyekwere (Russert @ 62) 4. Caitlin Pendergast 5. Rebecca Koons (Stephanie Mellott @ 51) 6. Nadia Garnett 7. Marikah Davin 8. Christiane Pheil (Armstrong @ 51) 9. Amanda Mesa (Barto @ 58) 10. Lauren Shissler (Ferlic @ 62) 11. Kate Flanagan 12. Deven Owsiany (blood – Henneman @ 23, return @ 33) 13. Olivia Lindsey (Henneman @ 69) 14. Lauren Barber 15. Sadie Anderson (c) 16. Lauren Poole 17. Lauren Russert 18. Kyle Armstrong 19. Stephanie Mellott 20. Alyssa Boff 21. Kasey Ferlic 22. Lisa Henneman 23. Brie Barto
Virginia: 1. Natasha Boyette (Lyons @ 40) 2. Emily Mastandrea 3. Makenzie Kirk 4. Allison Mazur 5. Jacquelyn Kim 6. Mary Anderson 7. Rosa Bauer-Moshi 8. Ning Tay 9. Cameron Boland 10. Stephanie Chubb (c) 11.Stephanie Gordon – substitute 12. Kelley Frank 13. Sharlyn Carter (Mendoza @ 76) 14. Katherine Estep 15. Amber Coffman (Souleret @ 40) 16. Leah Berry 17. Danielle Loleng 18. Anita Obasi 19. Angeli Mendoza 20. Laura Lyons 21. Michelle Souleret 22. Erica Cavanaugh 23. Brittany Weitzel
Scoring:
Penn State:
Try: Koons (14:08), Anderson (19:11, 79:45), Barber (35:58), Armstrong (73:00)
Penalty: Anderson (61:40)
Virginia:
Try: Cavanaugh (7:05, 65:34), Carter (39:23)
