Back MVP Hingano (seen here during summer 7s) / Photo: Jackie Finlan
With Saturday’s game against Glendale, Life West became the 13th team to compete in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The Gladiatrix traveled to Glendale, Colo., to take on 2018 runner-up Merlins and returned to NorCal with a 43-21 win.
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“We didn’t have the 7s season we wanted, so a lot of players were a little apprehensive of how [Saturday] would go,” Life West head coach Adriaan Ferris said of the team vibe heading into the season-opener. “We had compromised our 7s season a bit, really focusing on 7s and 15s the last two-and-a-half weeks, and went into nationals a little overcooked. But we felt we needed to get ourselves right for the WPL.”
Life West plays a very open attacking style and training has centered on getting everyone’s game understanding and mindset to a place where it could support that ideal. The group also had to integrate newcomers Eagle front row Hope Rogers and Lindenwood’s Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru, who played summer 7s with Life West and received a one-game waiver to participate Saturday before heading back to St. Charles, Mo., and also consider positional adjustments.
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“I imagine a lot of people will be asking questions about that – that was my decision,” Ferris said of Sara Parsons’ debut at flyhalf. “I’ve seen Sara in 7s and she has great skills and fundamentals. Very good catch-pass and great vision, and being a loose forward, communicates very strongly on defense.”
Ferris approached Parsons about the move in the spring, and for the last 4-5 months, they’ve been working quietly on the transition.
“There is a long way to go but we have a 10 who understands the game and as a loose forward understands the importance of linking and fluidity in the team attack,” Ferris said. “Having her there provides, one, leadership, and, two, from the defense perspective is very strong in that role.”
Life West employs an attack group and a defense group on game day, and the flyhalf – Parsons on Saturday – is the attack general. Hooker Rogers, No. 8 Jenn Sever, captain and scrumhalf Nikki Kenyon, fullback Leti Hingano and center Amy Naber Bonte are also in that attack group, and they call out areas of improvement during the game.
No. 8 Jenn Sever is on the attack group / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Elizabeth Cairns leads the defense group and the flanker was joined by Naber Bonte, Benson and Tarau-Peehikuru on Saturday.
“This group is designed to look at whether we’re pushing off the line quickly? Are we focused on communication? Are we chopping down or riding tackles,” Ferris said. “They assess on the field and that leadership is key.”
The defense group pushed the line speed and was, for the most part, able to catch the Merlins behind their gain line. That bred confidence that flowed into the attack, and the set piece created solid opportunities. Ferris pointed to the tight five in particular for setting that platform for the attack, and the win.
“The pivotal moment was our ability to shift the ball early in the first half. We were able to really stretch the defense and work on our attack system,” Ferris said. “Once we went wide and depending on what happened in front of them, some good decision-making followed. And that was led by our attack group.”
Hingano and Rogers scored in the opening 10 minutes, and the former kicked the first of four conversions. The home side responded through Eagle prop and first-time Merlin Az Nalbandian, converted by fellow Penn State alumna Gabby Cantorna, for the 12-7 scoreline after 25 minutes. Hingano scored again, followed by Naber Bonte, and then before the break, outside center Juliann Tordonato crossed for Glendale’s second score. The Gladiatrix took a 24-14 lead into halftime.
Scrumhalf Nikki Kenyon during 7s / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Scrumhalf Kenyon, who is another candidate for flyhalf now that Lindenwood graduate AK Pedraza is swapping coasts after a summer with Scion, scored back-to-back tries after seven minutes. Hingano’s conversions put Life West up 36-14.
The teams traded one more try apiece – Rachel Ehrecke scored and Cantorna added her third conversion, while Rogers dotted down in the final 10 minutes. Hingano’s conversion marked the final points of the day: 43-21 to Life West.
“In the forwards, Rogers was phenomenal for us today. She loves the contact and she’s physical, and she’s everywhere,” Ferris considered highlights. “But Bitsy [Cairns] was the MVP. She loves to get in there and muscle up around the ruck and have a crack at the ball.”
There were some penalty issues around the ruck – where a tenacious contest, led by terrors like Carmen Farmer, ensued – but Ferris praised Cairns’ calm leadership. The flanker was a prolific poacher, tackler and vice captain on the day. In the backs, Hingano earned MVP honors.
“Her striking ability from fullback was fantastic, and she was allowed to do that from the delivery from Naber,” Ferris also praised the center for a standout day. “It was her first game at this level. She is someone who is putting her hand up for higher honors.”
Naber Bonte during 7s / Photo: Jackie Finlan
Ferris also recognized Parson’s solid debut at flyhalf.
“She did a really good job around creating pressure and building phases based on where we could attack,” Ferris praised. “It’s not easy to break down the Glendale defense but I was happy with the performance.”
The team knows that Glendale will only get better for this experience and knows the rematch – Sept. 21 in San Francisco – will be heated.
“After a review of the student program, something we felt we didn’t do as a team was celebrate our successes,” Ferris said of player management. “We’re so critical of ourselves – or not critical, but, ‘That was great … but we have to do this and this,’ We talked about focusing on the ‘now.’ Celebrate successes and enjoy tonight. We’ve set the baseline, and also know there are things to improve on.”
Also in the WPL West, Berkeley beat ORSU 29-5 (read more). In the WPL East, which contested both games on Sunday, Chicago North Shore took down Twin Cities 31-10, and Beantown beat the visiting Atlanta Harlequins 32-22.