It's two tournament victories in a row, as the USA Women's 7s team won the Glendale 7s, beating New Zealand in the semis and Australia in the final.

The Eagles were superb all weekend. Although they lost a pool game to France, that loss was tarnished by an obvious intentional knock-on that led to a France try, and wasn't called (not event for an unintentional knock). In the end, that bad non-call didn't matter, as the USA showed a thrilling combination of aggression, intelligence over the ball, quick ball movement, and athleticism to win it all.

Day One

The Eagles crushed Brazil and Ireland to go 2-1 on Day One, and could have made it 3-0 is they had scored on their final possession. But the pass to set everything in motion was smacked down to the ground and set up a French try instead.

Canada Drama

In the quarters, it was also a tight game, as Canada and the USA traded tries back and forth. Super sub Kristi Kirshe blazed in for a try to make it 22-19 for the USA. But Canada kept the ball superbly and put Karen Paquin over. With the conversion, Canada led 26-22. The USA had one more possession, and in dramatic fashion, sent Cheta Emba through the middle for the game-winner.

New Zealand Drama

So 29-26 USA and a bit of an escape for the USA. In the semis, the escape artists were almost New Zealand. A brilliant move from Jordan Gray-Matyas to put Alev Kelter through a hole put the USA up 7-0 after 15 seconds.

But New Zealand weathered a couple of other US scoring opportunities, and then scored right on the stroke of halftime. 

In the second half, both teams struggled to score. New Zealand were somewhat fortunate to get the lead thanks to a holding-on penalty that was equal parts not releasing the tackled player. Down 12-7, the USA rallied, with Kirshe busting through once more to score under the posts. Then after a long period of pressure, Lauren Doyle cut back against the grain and it was 19-12.

The restart then was caught by New Zealand's Michaela Blyde just before she stepped into touch. Game over. Except, inexplicably, referee Amy Perrett game New Zealand one more shot, saying Blyde was in touch when she caught the ball. Replays showed otherwise, but New Zealand got the gift, and charged ahead, getting a couple more penalties, and scoring through Stacey Waaka. But Waaka didn't celebrate, as she realized she had scored out wide. The kick was too difficult for Kelly Brazier, and the Eagles held on 19-17.

Aussies Outlclassed

Australia, who had blasted France 40-0 in the semis, were put under pressure immediately. Penalties and some smart work back and forth allowed Kelster to crash up the middle for an early try. The Aussies replied almost immediately as Ellia Green zipped behind her support and raced around the edge. That made it 7-5 USA, and things didn't change until well after the first-half hooter. The USA kept slowing working toward the tryline, and finally it was 2017 Sorensen Award-winner Ilona Maher who capped off USA pressure by stretching over the line.

IMPACT MOMENT: Take a look at this momentum-swinging try - @USARugby's Ilona Maher delivering the #ImpactMoment in the Cup final #DHLRugby #USAW7s pic.twitter.com/bD1UomNET7

— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) October 7, 2019

The Eagles built on that in the second half. Once again opting for a very tight attack, they consolidated after another typical Kirshe run, and Nicole Heavirland was over. The halfback then capped  off some impressive work from Emba to score again.

Maher was the player of the final, and while she didn't make the tournament Dream Team, Kirshe and Emba did. Just about any one of the USA major players could have laid a claim to a spot. In in the end it actually wasn't that close. France was lucky to win on Day One. New Zealand were throttled and only made it close thanks to a mistake from the ref. The final was almost all USA.

This was an excellent performance on home soil by the Eagles, and firmly puts them in the conversation when you're thinking about the Olympics. 

USA Results:

USA 27 Brazil 0
Tries: Heavirland, Maher, Kelter, Kirshe, Gray-Matyas
Convs: Kelter

USA 45 Ireland 7
Tries: Maher, Tapper 2, Kirshe 2, Emba, Heavirland
Convs: Kelter, Heavirland 4

USA 14 France 24
Tries: Doyle, Kirshe
Convs: Heavirland 2

USA 29 Canada 26
Tries: Emba 2, Kelter, Tapper, Kirshe
Convs: Kelter 2

USA 19 New Zealand 17
Tries: Kelter, Kirshe, Doyle
Convs: Kelter 2

USA 26 Australia 7
Tries: Kelter, Maher, Heavirland 2
Convs: Kelter 3, Heavirland