Stanford traveled to Denver, Colorado this weekend to compete amongst sixteen of the top 7′s teams in the country in USA Rugby’s 7′s National Championship.  Stanford would perform very well throughout the weekend, advancing to the knock out rounds, finishing with a 4-2 record overall, and winning the Plate Championships (5th Place).

 

On day 1, Stanford competed in Pool B with Air Force, Texas Tech, and Virginia.  The top two teams would automatically advance to the quarterfinals on day 2.  Stanford started strong against the Air Force Academy with three first half tries from Olivia Bernadel-Huey, Chesley Sveinsson and Chelsea Harris, leading to a 19-0 half time lead.  Harris would add a second to start the second half before Air Force would get on the board to close the lead to 24-7. Sveinsson would finish the game with her second for a 29-7 Stanford victory.   Stanford started in similar fashion in game 2 vs. Texas Tech with three first half tries, two from Dani McDonald and one from Sveinnson for a 19-0 half time lead.  Harris would score to start the second half, followed by a Lai Turn try before Texas Tech would rally for a try of their own.  With time expiring, Harris scored her second and Stanford finished with the 40-7 victory.  In their final pool play game, Stanford faced Virginia, also 2-0, for the top seed to come out of the pool.  Under pressure for the first time on the day, Stanford played impatiently and unforced turnovers led to two quick Virginia tries and a 0-12 deficit.  Stanford would rally back, with two turnovers from scrums, to tie the game by halftime 12-12 from two scores from Bernadel-Huey.  Stanford seemed to have stolen the momentum heading into the second stanza, but Virginia would score first after successive Stanford penalties.  Stanford had their chances, but couldn’t capitalize and with time running out Virginia sealed the victory, and first place in the pool with another score and a 24-12 victory.

 

With their second place pool finish on day 1, Stanford would face Pool A winner, and perennial powerhouse Penn State in the quarterfinals.  Stanford started strong and would score the games first two tries from Sveinsson and Nikki Richardson.  Richardson converted one and Stanford was off to 12-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.  It looked like Stanford might add a 3rd  with a territorial advantage as the half wound down, but a Penn State long range try brought the Nittany Lions back into the game at the half down 7-12 to Stanford.  Penn State would rally to start the second half, with two tries, one converted giving them a 19-12 lead.  Stanford was unable to get the needed score to tie the contest, and as time ran out, Penn State finished with a score and 24-12 final victory.  Penn State would go on to win the National Championship with a 26-7 victory over Princeton in the semi finals before beating Central Washington 46-27 to claim the title in the Championship final.

 

With Stanford’s quarterfinal loss, the Cardinal would have the opportunity to compete for the Plate Championship (5th Place).  In their next game, Stanford would fall behind to a game Lindenwood University team 0-5 after a quick first minute try.  Stanford answered back with scores from Sveinsson and Harris to take a 12-5 lead into the break.  Esther Melton would add the next score in the second half for a safe Stanford lead before Lindenwood would score once more at the death.  With the 19-10 victory, Stanford moved onto the Plate Final vs. Rutgers.  The Plate Final was all Stanford, with two first half tries from Bernadel-Huey and Harris giving the Cardinal a 14-0 lead at the break.  Stanford started out as they left off, with two more quick tries from Bernadel-Huey and Sveinsson for a 26-0 Stanford lead.  Rutgers would score at the death to close the final gap to 26-5 Stanford.  With the victory Stanford finished the tournament with a 4-2 record and Plate Champions.

 

Stanford Results:

Day 1 Pool Play: Air Force: 29-7 Win

Day 1 Pool Play: Texas Tech: 40-7 Win

Day 1 Pool Play: Virginia: 12-24 Loss

Day 2 Quarterfinals: Penn State: 12-24 Loss

Day 2 Plate Semi-Finals: Lindenwood: 19-10 Win

Day 2 Plate Final: Rutgers: 26-5 Win

 

Stanford Squad for USA Rugby 7′s National Championship:  Chelsey Sveinsson, Sasha Herbst de Cortina, Lai Turn, Megan McAndrews, Jess Smith, Esther Melton, Nikki Richardson, Dani McDonald, Lex Schoenberg, Kathryn Treder, Chelsea Harris, Olivia Bernadel-Huey

 

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