Chicago North Shore shifted to the East Conference this season, as it made more logistical sense for 2019 newcomer Life West (Calif.) to join the Women’s Premier League (WPL) West. Despite the unknowns awaiting in the new competition, North Shore felt better prepared for its third season in the WPL, and that played out in a season-opening win over Twin Cities Sunday.
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Last year was a tough one for North Shore, which went 0-8 in the regular season and finished eighth overall at nationals. Nevertheless, a good group of players returned, as did second-year head coach Parisa Asgharzadeh, and the team added players from other clubs as well.
“The players now understand my core philosophy and my game plan and attack structure,” Asgharzadeh said. “I was a new coach last season – I came in one week before the season started – so it was all new to them. So now we’re a step ahead in understanding the principles of go-forward rugby and what attacking space means, and offense and defense.
“The difference in the start of this season compared to last season was that North Shore had a really solid 7s season,” Asgharzadeh added. “JCL [John Coumbe-Lilley] coached this summer and I really do think having that structure and success put us on the right foot for this WPL season.”
North Shore finished runner-up to the Chicago Lions at the Midwest club 7s championship and thus didn’t advance to nationals (the Midwest had only one seed), but had 15s players who were active for the Lions last weekend. The condensed schedule, which saw an overlap of WPL opening weekend and the NDIT, produced some anxiety in terms of player availability. To boot, North Shore’s numbers skew toward the forwards, and some packies were asked to take up back positions.
“We talked a lot about having composure and being calm and really keeping possession when it was ours,” Asgharzadeh said of game-day focus. “Another big focus was really blitzing [on defense] and closing space with a solid line. There’s still work to do there.”
Sunday was a hot, muggy day in Chicago, and Twin Cities was a guaranteed physical opponent. The home side struggled to finish scoring opportunities early on but the halftime conversation centered on means to achieve cohesion, and better team play followed. North Shore scored 31 points before Twin Cities responded.
“That came from a lot of work we were doing over the course of the year,” Asgharzadeh said of the offense’s output. “We worked hard on our offload game and understanding how to support your ballcarriers. A lot of those tries were team tries that came out of a lot of continuity and successful offloads and cohesion.”
Kadie Sanford and Nicole Fisch, the forwards and backs captains, respectively, led on the day. Prop Charli Jacoby, lock Bridget Kapinus, fullback Jess Ventrillo, wing Olga Niyibizi and replacement scrumhalf Rose DiBalsamo scored tries, while flyhalf Kathleen Stanley added three conversions.
The bench then cleared and fitness waned toward the end of the match, and the Amazons posted the final two tries of the match: 31-10 the final.
In terms of standouts on the day, Asgharzadeh was impressed with the forwards who were asked to play in the back line. Hooker Kaitlyn Kasper moved to wing when fullback Jess Ventrillo, a crucial striker, rolled an ankle during the second half. The front row took on the challenge and planted several try-saving tackles.
“One of our flankers, Olga, moved to wing and scored a try,” the coach beamed. “We worked hard with her on Thursday: This is how to work in the back three; this is how you hold on defense. She stepped up to the occasion and did a good job.
“Because of numbers in the back line, we’re looking to be creative – loosies in the backs,” Asgharzadeh continued. “The culture at North Shore is so amazing that people are ready to do what it takes to get that start. Olga would have started at flanker, but there was no disagreeing from her when she was asked to play wing.”
Chicago North Shore not only got its first win of the season and its first in the East Conference, but also beat the predictions (TRB’s included), which had unanimously picked the Amazons to win. The team was fired up and had the final say regarding last season’s results as indicators for future success.
“I’m proud of the team and it was a well deserved win,” Asgharzadeh said. “The Amazon coaches – one is a good friend, Lynelle [Kugler]. They didn’t know what to expect and now they see what we can do and will adjust.”
Around the rest of the WPL, Beantown beat visiting Atlanta 32-22, Life West topped Glendale 43-21, and Berkeley beat ORSU 29-5. North Shore enjoys a bye week this round and will tune up in preparation for the New York in New York on Sept. 2. Twin Cities will head to Beantown this weekend.
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