The USA Women 7s team played well through pool play, going 2-1 and advancing to the Cup quarterfinals of the Dubai 7s, the first leg of the 2014-15 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series. After opening the tournament with a 17-12 win over Russia (read more), the Eagles dropped a 24-19 decision to New Zealand and defeated China 61-0.

The Americans' game against reigning world series champ New Zealand was a pleasant surprise, despite the loss. The Kiwis are routinely one of the best teams on the circuit, and for comparison purposes, beat the USA 31-0 this time last year. Vix Folayan, who finished the day with seven tries, put her side up with the game's first try, which Amelia Villines converted, 7-0. 

In unfamiliar territory, New Zealand spent the rest of the half overcoming the deficit, and tries from Portia Woodman and Gayle Broughton gave the Black Ferns a 10-7 lead at the break.

Once again, it was Folayan who initiated the second-half scoring, and with Villines' conversion, the Americans took their biggest lead of the game, 14-10. The Kiwis made some substitutions after the score, and a minute later, captain Sarah Goss restored the lead with a try that Tyla Nathan-Wong converted, 17-14.

Two minutes later, Ruby Tui dotted down New Zealand's fourth try, and Nathan-Wong's extra points gave the Black Ferns their biggest cushion of the day, 24-14. The USA kept the intensity high, bringing on fresh legs in the form of Hannah Lopez and Lorrie Clifford. With regulation expired, Folayan bagged her third try and game-ender, 24-19.

The USA ended with an enjoyable match against China, which had lost by a combined 90-5 to pool mates New Zealand and Russia. A big performance would propel the USA into the Cup quarterfinals, and the Eagles didn't disappoint. The USA ran out to a 35-0 halftime lead and saw six players cross for tries. Folayan got her second hat trick of the tournament, while Alev Kelter added two tries. Captain Kelly Griffin, Jessica Javelet, and newcomers Joanne Fa'avesi and Melissa Fowler scored their first Sevens Series tries in the 61-0 win.

The Eagles take on a very familiar and intimidating Canada in the Cup quarterfinals. The North American rival was also 2-1 in pool play, losing 17-12 to England and defeating Brazil 26-10 and Fiji 47-5. The teams' quarterfinal will occur at 7:22 p.m. ET today.