Stanford Advance, then Eliminated at Regionals
Stanford hosted USA Rugby’s Western Regional featuring the two strongest teams from the Pacific Mountain Conference’s West and North Divisions. On day one in the Sweet-16, Stanford would advance to the quarterfinals by defeating Washington State with a strong second half performance. However, on day two, Stanford was overcome by a physical and athletic Central Washington team, ending the Cardinal’s XV’s season.
The first day’s match was a repeat on Stanford’s final in the Pacific Mountain Playoffs, when Stanford defeated Washington State. In the rematch, Stanford would again be challenged in the first half, before Stanford put in a very strong second half performance to soundly defeat a game Cougar team. In the first half, Stanford’s Dani McDonald crossed the line only minutes in, and Nikki Richardson converted for the 7-0 lead. Washington State would strike back in the 16th minute to narrow the gap, but Stanford responded with a Chelsea Harris try for a 12-5 lead at the half. Stanford came out on fire in the second half, and within the first ten minutes Madda Wilson, Olivia Bernadel-Huey and Isabella Jibillian would all score, Richardson would covert two, giving Stanford a a safe 29-5 lead. Julia Howell scored soon after and many Stanford subs came onto the field lifting Stanford’s play and intensity. Wilson and McDonald would both score again, with replacement Valerie Chen adding the extras to Wilson’s score. In the final ten minutes replacement Maki Asrat would score two tries, separated by a consolation Washington State try, one of which Chen would convert. A convincing second half eventually ended with a 60-10 Stanford victory.
Day two’s Quarterfinal featured a far more difficult challenge for Stanford in the newly formed varsity program, Central Washington. While a new opponent in name to Stanford, there was some familiarity, as Central Washington featured the head coach and seven players from Stanford’s last year’s National Semi-final opponent, American International College, who had recently transferred to their new team. Stanford was unable to ride the momentum from their strong finish the day before, and started the game poorly with a series of errors in their own end leading to two quick Central Washington scores. Central then created a great try of their own to jump out to a quick 17-0 lead only 11 minutes into the game. Stanford finally settled down and began to assert themselves in the game, and play with attacking possession in Central’s end. Despite spending the next fifteen minutes with ball in hand in Central’s end, a series of handling errors halted Stanford’s efforts. Central would break out for another try at the 28 minute mark, and crossed again in injury time before the end of the half for a 27-0 halftime lead. Central crossed the line first in the second half before Stanford would get their first and only score through a hard charging run from Chelsey Sveinsson. Nikki Richardson converted to close the score to 7-32. Stanford was unable to maintain their momentum, and it would be Central who would finish out the scoring for the day, crossing the line three more times. For Stanford, it was a disappointing way to finish an otherwise strong and successful XV’s season. Central Washington, big, physical, skilled and athletic, were too much for Stanford on the day, and deserving victors.
Next Up: Stanford’s XV’s season comes to a close with a 10-2 overall record and reaching the quarterfinals. Stanford now hopes to receive an at-large big to USA Rugby’s 7′s National Championships in Denver Colorado on May 23rd and 24th.
Stanford Team vs. Washington State: 1: Isabella Jibilian (Fiona Meyer-Teruel) 2: Zineb Oulmaki 3: Chelsey Sveinsson (Darcy Pancoast) 4: Julia Howell (Theresa Asuquo) 5: Allie Ballesteros (Theresa Asuquo) 6: Sasha Herbst de Cortina *Captain 7: Lia Ferguson (Jhori Varner) 8: Lai Turn (Jess Smith) 9: Esther Melton (Tia Watkins) 10: Nikki Richardson (Valerie Chen) 11: Dani McDonald 12: Lex Schoenberg 13: Madda Wilson (Lex Schoenberg) 14: Chelsea Harris (Maki Asrat) 15: Olivia Bernadel-Huey
Scoring Summary vs Washington State: 8: Stanford McDonald Try (Richardson Conversion) 16: Washington State Try 21: Stanford Harris Try (Halftime Stanford 12- Washington State 5) 41: Stanford Wilson Try (Richardson Conversion) 44: Stanford Bernadel-Huey Try (Richardson Conversion) 50: Stanford Jibilian Try 53: Stanford Howell Try 66: Stanford Wilson Try (Chen Conversion) 69: Stanford McDonald Try 72: Stanford Asrat Try (Chen Conversion) 74: Washington State Try 80: Stanford Asrat Try (Fulltime Stanford 60- Washington State 10)
Stanford Team vs. Central Washington: 1: Isabella Jibilian (Darcey Pancoast) 2: Lia Ferguson (Zineb Oulmaki) 3: Chelsey Sveinsson 4: Jess Smith (Theresa Asuquo) 5: Allie Ballesteros 6: Sasha Herbst de Cortina *Captain 7: Jhori Varner (Kathryn Treder) 8: Lai Turn 9: Esther Melton (Tia Watkins) 10: Nikki Richardson 11: Dani McDonald 12: Maki Asrat 13: Madda Wilson (Lex Schoenberg) 14: Lex Schoenberg (Valerie Chen) 15: Olivia Bernadel-Huey
Scoring Summary vs Central Washington: 4: Central Washington Try 8: Central Washington Try 11: Central Washington Try 28: 4: Central Washington Try and Conversion 40: 4: Central Washington Try (Halftime Central Washington 27- Stanford 0) 44: 4: Central Washington Try 48: Stanford Sveinsson Try (Richardson Conversion) 60: 4: Central Washington Try 68: 4: Central Washington Try and Conversion 75: 4: Central Washington Try and Conversion (Fulltime Central Washington 53- Stanford 7)