Jess Keating for touch / Photo: Star Stevens
DI Elite ended its regular season with all four active teams in play. Lindenwood University remains undefeated after a 77-5 win against BYU in Provo, Utah. Meanwhile, Central Washington and Life University played the most competitive, heated match all season, with the visiting Wildcats edging the Running Eagles 10-5 in a thriller. There is one caveat involving Penn State that prevents the playoff set-up from being formalized at this point.
RELATED: DI Elite Standings & Stats
Lindenwood mixed up the lineup for its fourth game of the season, moving varsity players from the reserves to the starting line and giving J.V. players an opportunity to play into the top 23. There were some subtle differences in the look of the Lions’ game, but ultimately, the reigning national champions put in another dominating performance.
The majority of the first half was played in BYU’s end, meaning the home side had to play a lot of defense. BYU had the ability to punish slow support with poached ball and did a good job of kicking to space to challenge fullback Salote Iongi, a Utah native. But these incidents didn’t build to scoring opportunities or sways of momentum.
Lindenwood 77
Tries: Salote Iongi, Puni Skipps 2, Izzy Manu, Alia Ah Far, Moira Dillow, Taina Tukuafu, Caitlyn Edwards 3, Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru, Jayla Hampton
Cons: Caitlyn Edwards 4, Natalie Gray 2
Pens: Gray
BYU 5
Tries: Alexa Tenney
Iongi scored one minute into the match, an opportunity that began with a misplayed kickoff, followed by a driving lineout and crisp hands down the line. The subsequent try came after flyhalf Richelle Stephens grubbered to the corner and the ball was carried in-goal for the grounding, setting up a five-meter Lindenwood scrum. Freshman inside center Puni Skipps scored easily from the set piece, touching down the first of two tries. Wing Caitlyn Edwards slotted the extras and ended the day with 23 points on three tries and four conversions.
The props started and ended a big series out of Lindenwood’s end. Lali Lafitiga confidently worked the open-field defense for a big break, and then Izzy Manu finished the drive with her first try of the season, 19-0.
BYU’s Kat Stowers, Kainoa Ah Quin and Nicole Lyons worked a nice kicking game, and Stephens and Edwards had a solid answer. The Cougars, however, were hurt by inconsistent lineouts, while the Lions were more successful with the set piece. Alexa Tenney did a wonderful job returning an Edwards kick and was tackled into touch after a nice gain. Lindenwood’s lineout set up No. 8 Manaia Moala and lock Moira Dillow for big runs, and then the recycle moved to flanker Alia Ah Far for the team’s fourth try, 24-0.
The Lions duplicated the scoring effort in the second quarter. A very good Lyons kick was not supported in the chase, and a penalty for not-retreating put in motion a series that saw Dillow dive across for the try (31-0). Sophomore center Taina Tukuafu turned around one of BYU’s best scoring opportunities, as Lindenwood knocked on the ball three times to keep play inside its 22. A BYU pass back inside didn’t go to hand, and Tukuafu was there for the pick-up and 80-meter try (38-0).
Edwards then logged back-to-back tries. The first built from a BYU penalty in the scrum and subsequent lineout. The second evolved as BYU turned over possession in its 22 and Lyons put the ball to boot. Iongi slid underneath the ball to secure it cleanly and then shifted the defense with a long pass to Stephens at midfield. The senior then connected with Edwards on the far sideline and took advantage of slowly adjusting coverage. The wing streaked down the touchline for the try, 48-0 into the break.
BYU wasn’t going to win this game, but that’s not to say that there weren’t valuable take-aways awaiting a relatively young team. Lyons lined up a penalty kick at the Lindenwood 40 meter, and although it fell short, it was a fantastic strike that felt more like a warning. The Lions knocked on the failed attempt, setting up a five-meter scrum for BYU. The Cougars held onto the ball through multiple phases and finally took advantage of the overload out wide, putting wing Alexa Tenney away in the corner, 48-5.
It was a nice moment for BYU, but Lindenwood went back to work and fed off of its reserves. Jayla Hampton and Sativa Tarau-Peehikuru both scored, and Natalie Gray took over tee-kicking duties, adding a penalty kick as well. Skipps and Edwards rounded out the day with tries, capping a 77-5 win.
Conversely, the Life vs. Central Washington was the match of the season thus far. The Wildcats outscored the Running Eagles two tries to one, and they played like this game could be won or lost an any moment. It was refreshing in the sense that there was a tangible move from “we’re grateful to just be able to play rugby” to “we’re here to win.”
Central Washington 10
Tries: Kayla Guyton, Haley Abeyta
Life 5
Tries: Malery Billingy
Mistakes plagued both sides, whether they were penalties of aggression, to ill-advised passing in traffic, to defenders slipping off substantial ballcarriers. Turnovers ruled. The 80-degree weather played a role in the breakdown of skills and connections, and both teams saw excellent scoring opportunities go unrealized. Nevertheless, both sides played courageously, showing deep trust in their teammates as they attempted to run out of their own end, Life especially, to mixing in the boot and taking advantage of a chaos environment.
Central Washington scored first. Life defended brilliantly, as the first 10 minutes stayed in the Running Eagles’ end. Flanker Kayla Guyton took the set-up pass from Haley Abeyta, and the freshman crossed for her first try of the season, 5-0.
Fewer than 10 minutes later, senior wing Malery Billingy was in the try zone. There was a water break, and then play resumed with a Life lineout on its 22. Sophomore Kate Buzby, who returned to flanker after a two-game break, took the ball in the backs and extended her line-break with two quick pickups off the ground. The flanker made it to the five meter, and just before Aly Namosimalua tackled her, Buzby offloaded to Billingy in support for the try, 5-all.
There the score held until the 70th minute, when Central Washington converted nearly 30 minutes of attacking territory into an Abeyta try. Life was fantastic on defense, holding up tries and forcing penalties and knock-ons, but the field position eventually paid off for the Wildcats. An errant pass into touch set up a CWU attacking lineout, and although it wasn’t clean, Tessa Hann did an excellent job of cleaning it up and finding Aly Namosimalua, who was in the line at this point. The wing got the ball to Tiara A’au, who powered up and freed the ball for Mikayla Roberts and another solid run. Keia Mae Sagapolu got close to the line and then ball moved five meters off the breakdown to Abeyta, who had the momentum and space to dive over, 10-5.
The game ended with Life attacking in Central Washington’s end, but the Wildcats did enough to slow the game down and keep play in a safe place. The victory means the Wildcats are ranked second and should host its April 17 semifinal along with Lindenwood. Stay tuned for interviews.