Steuber Field – Stanford, Ca.

 

Stanford continued Pacific Mountain Conference action by hosting Chico State on Saturday.  Recovering from a lack luster performance the following weekend, Stanford came out with a determined mindset and showcased commitment, effort and physicality, in route to a 52-0 victory over Chico State.

 

From the opening kickoff, Chico were able to move the ball into Stanford territory, but only a few minutes in Stanford countered back with a long run from wing Dani McDonald.  Stanford maintained continuity and several phases later the ball was moved wide again to prop Chelsey Sveinsson who evaded several defenders to make it over the line.  Flyhallf Nikki Richardson converted and Stanford took hold of a lead they would never relinquish.  In the 14th minute, Richardson gave a nice inside ball to lock Allie Ballesteros who made a long athletic run stepping through defenders to score under the posts.  Richardson was good again on the conversion and Stanford led 14-0.  McDonald would score next after a long multi-phase movement when Stanford successfully moved the ball back and forth across the field multiple times.  With a few minutes remaining in the half, Stanford would tally one more try, this time off the heals of an alert quick lineout from which Stanford moved the ball back and forth across the field, eventually finding its way to wing Chelsea Harris for the score.  Richardson’s conversion made the score 26-0, a lead Stanford carried into halftime.

 

The second half was similar to the first with Stanford able to keep Chico State from crossing the line, while adding four more tries, three of which Richardson converted.  The first score came minutes in when McDonald was able to carry over a Chico defender from five meters out.   The next came off a nice multi phase movement eventually swung wide for Harris to finish for her second try.  The third came from scrumhalf Ester Melton, who broke through the line from halfway out and showcased her finishing speed racing to the line.  The final try was by center Madda Wilson, who took a nice inside line and swerved through Chico State cover defense to find the line.  The Stanford performance was strong in many facets, particularly improving in physicality at the tackle and ruck, and overall effort and work rate.   Stanford will look to build on the win when they take on rival Cal next Saturday on the road.

 

In the reserve team game, Stanford put in another strong performance, running out to a 42-5 victory.  Prop Zineb Oulmaki and flanker Jhori Varner were a physical presence throughout, while out wide center Sarah Houamed and wing Megan McAndrews had several strong runs.

 

Next Up: Stanford (3-0/2-0) continues Pacific Mountain Conference play on the road Saturday 2/7 vs. Cal (1-1)  at Witter Rugby Field at 4pm.

 

Stanford Team vs. Chico State:  1: Isabella Jibilian 2: Diana Rodriguez (Zineb Oulmaki)  3: Chelsey Sveinsson 4: Julia Howell (Theresa Asuquo) 5: Allie Ballesteros  6: Sasha Herbst de Cortina (Kleo Greenwood) 7: Catherynn Vuong (Kaelyn Varner)  8: Lai Turn *Captain 9: Esther Melton (Tia Watkins) 10: Nikki Richardson 11: Dani McDonald 12: Maki Asrat 13: Madda Wilson 14: Chelsea Harris  15: Olivia Bernadel-Huey (Sarah Houamed)

 

Scoring Summary:  4: Stanford Sveinsson Try (Richardson Conversion), 14: Stanford Ballesteros Try (Richardson Conversion), 25: Stanford McDonald Try, 34: Stanford Harris Try (Richardson Conversion), 43: Stanford McDonald Try, 54: Stanford Harris Try (Richardson Conversion), 68: Stanford Melton Try (Richardson Conversion), 75: Stanford Wilson Try (Richardson Conversion)