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Lindenwood Keeps the DI Elite Title

  • 03 May 2021
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Lindenwood University won its third-straight DI Elite National Championship, defeating Life University 54-12 Saturday night in St. Charles, Mo. It was a fitting ending for the Lions, which completed an undefeated season while outscoring opponents 364-53. [Photo: Don Adams Jr. for USA Rugby (link to original]

There were no surprises from Lindenwood in that it played the well balanced, connected, creative game that is the standard for collegiate rugby. The final wasn’t the perfect performance – and Life capitalized on a couple of those missteps for points – but the Lions won every aspect of the game. The home side benefitted from the leadership that comes with lots of championship rugby, and halfbacks Richelle Stephens and Morgan Freeman managed the experience as captain and vice captain, respectively. Stephens is one of three Lions nominated for the MA Sorensen Award, joining fullback Caring De Freitas and lock McKenna Strong in the nine-person field. Life juniors Susan Adegoke and Saher Hamdan are also in the running for collegian of the year.

Eight seniors featured on the 23-player roster, but the underclassmen who have been on the varsity squad all season continue to stand out. Freshman inside center Eti Haungatau was named championship MVP by USA Women’s National Team head coach Rob Cain, who reported to St. Charles for the final. Fellow freshman flanker Ahnea Aupiu and sophomore No. 8 Kapoina Bailey were again favorites in Saturday night’s match.

Life had its veterans, as well, but the lineup moved around a lot more than Lindenwood’s this season. There were some key injuries and absences, but there was also a process of finding the right combinations – something that the Lions already seemed to know coming into the spring. Season-long scrumhalf and co-captain Sylina Flowers sustained an injury prior to the semifinals, and Tatum Johnson and Sophie Pyrz have been splitting time at No. 9 since then. Hamdan got a couple of games with the Marietta program before departing for Colorado and the USA 15s Daily Training Environment. Prior to the junior’s departure, Hamdan played in the back row but lined up across Haungatau for the final. Sophomore Kate Buzby has been working back from injury since arriving in Georgia and was able to do a lot with a half-plus at flanker on Saturday.

As expected, Life was up for it from kickoff and launched that pressure-heavy, frustrating defense that tests the opposition’s support and calm. But after approximately seven minutes, Lindenwood got into its fast-phase rhythm, which started from Freeman and a quick-tap penalty. Alia Ah Far broke free and Strong got close to the line before play reset with another penalty. Senior Penina Tuilaepa then capped the drive with a power push over the line – the prop’s first try of the season: 5-0.

Lindenwood ran in two more tries before Life had an opportunity to build some momentum on attack. Prop Selena Tuilaepa did an excellent job of recouping from a mistimed pass and went on the first of a couple of solid runs into space. Haungatau was there for the pass back inside and finished with the try. Some nice sideline-to-sideline work produced an overload that Demi Allen and De Freitas manipulated, and the fullback nearly fought her way over the line. The recycle was consolidated in the forwards, and senior hooker Destiny Arena punched it in for the try. Lock Natalie Gray kicked a conversion for the 17-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Lindenwood took the subsequent restart and Life did an excellent job of holding up the ballcarrier for the turnover. But the Running Eagles were penalized in the scrum and later lost a lineout in attacking territory. Life would eventually make good on Lindenwood’s mistakes, but the team missed some opportunities early on.

Meanwhile, the Lions added two more tries from Aupiu, who dove in from in close, and De Freitas, who took a skip pass from Haungatau and worked the defense from 10 meters out. Gray added a conversion that bounced off of and over the crossbar: 29-0.

Life finally got points on the board as the half neared its end. A knock-on following a looping play saw a brief pause in play, and Life used that advantage to attack quickly. Sydnee Cervinski moved the ball to freshman center Pepe Toomalatai, who perfectly timed the pass to wing Adrionna Duncan out wide. The junior had the pace to outrun the pursuit for the corner try: 29-5.

The game intensified after the break, as Life used a penalty and lineout to drive to Lindenwood’s try line. A Lions knock-on reset play and the Running Eagles built an overload out wide. A high tackle on Duncan in the corner turned the score into a penalty try, and Life closed the gap to 29-12.

If there was going to be a turning point for the game, this was it. Not only did Life have a player advantage but it had the momentum after back-to-back tries. In the end, it was a turning point, but for Lindenwood. The Lions ran in two tries during the next 10 minutes, and then didn’t look back. The first came after a mishandled restart and then a penalty in the scrum. Freeman went quickly from the mark and hit Haungatau, who drew in the defense and then sent a lovely pass to wing Jess Laughlin for the corner try. Minutes later, Stephens relieved pressure with perhaps her only clearance kick of the evening, and it was a solid boot from her own end to empty space behind the wings. Adegoke retrieved the ball, but Laughlin anticipated the fullback’s pass perfectly, intercepting it for the try: 39-12.

Lindenwood’s subs started coming on around the 55-minute mark, and their impact has been a season-long highlight. No one shocks the game like Izzy Manu and Lali Lafitiga, and they didn’t disappoint in the final. Manu led a driving maul nearly 20 meters before it was intentionally collapsed and afforded Life a yellow card. Another penalty allowed Haungatau to line up a three-pointer, and the well rounded center slotted it easily: 42-12.

Lindenwood added two more tries before the end of the match. Reserve scrumhalf Meg Gold collected a clearance kick on the sideline and sent a pass halfway across the pitch to De Freitas. The ball moved to Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru, who nearly scored, and the recycle went to reserve Moira Dillow, who did score. Haungatau converted to the end the night with 10 points. After a really long break around a Lindenwood attacking scrum, reserve Manaia Moala ended the game with a try, the freshmen’s second of the DI Elite season: 54-12.

That’s a wrap on the only official women’s collegiate season to occur during the 2020-21 school year. The DI Elite added BYU this spring but temporarily lost Penn State to Covid-19 restrictions. But the four approved programs were able to travel, host and play full-on 15s, and gave the U.S. a competition to watch. It was huge.

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