Lindenwood regained the women's D1A title they lost last year, taking what was, once again, a tight final against Life 19-15.
This was the seventh straight D1A final between these two teams. Played at Stanford University, it may be the last as Lindenwood is now an NCAA varsity team and is expected to play a NIRA schedule next year.
Defending MA Sorensen Award-winner and a finalist again this year, Freda Tafuna, scored two tries for the Lions and was a defensive force all day, leading Lindenwood to the win.
"We are so proud of the team for everything they put into this year," said Lindenwood Head Coach Trevor Locke. "They work so incredibly hard and to see them continually pick each other up in hard times is a true pleasure. Our staff couldn't be more thankful for to coach such a solid group of young women."
Life scored first after a wild run from wing Azhinaye Barner saw her take a couple of collisions and keep going. She was stopped short but the ball was sent smartly to the opposite wing where Harlie Kallichuk went over. Lindenwood responded after a penalty. They took a lineout inside the Life 22. The ball was tapped down to Tafuna, who set a ruck and the forwards worked their way closer. Finally Tafuna herself picked up and found a tiny bit of space to score. The No. 8 converted, as well, for a 7-5 Lindenwood.
That lead would hold up through to halftime in a hard-hitting contest where neither team was giving up much on defense.
Coming out of the break Lindenwood went on the attack, and looked very threatening. The Life defense held, however, and when they forced a scrum, Leila Opeti (moved to No. 8 from flanker) picked up and was off for a 40-meter jaunt. That put Life on the front foot and once again they got close to the line before shifting the ball quickly to the wing, where Kallichuck logged her second. That made it 10-7 Life.
But Tafuna's try and successful conversion put the Lions up 7-5 at the 15 minute mark. Both teams traded possession by utilizing the kicking game to battle for field position and despite both teams being inside the other teams 22 meter line multiple times, the score stayed 7-5 at the half.
The halftime break provided some momentum for Life as they quickly scored a try on the outside to take a 10-7 lead at the 45 minute mark. On the ensuing possession Lindenwood was called for a yellow-card and played the next 10 minutes shorthanded.
Off the restart, Lindenwood flanker He'lena Dou'ble was penalized for a high tackle that was eventually deemed worth of a yellow card. Shorthanded, Lindenwood handled the pressure that Life brought and in fact it was Lindenwood that found some space. A scything run from center Makenna Bailey and offload to Tafuna got them within inches of the line. But Life got out of it.
