Eagle Women Look To Rebound Against Canada

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - USA Women’s National 15s Team Head Coach Rob Cain has named his gameday23 for Sunday's rematch against Canada.

Admission to the game is free, and the game can also bee seen live on FloRugby. Kickofis 2PM PT, Sunday.

Head Coach Rob Cain has made seven changes from the team that lost 19-0 on Wednesday.

Kathryn Treder ges her second cap at hooker, and she partners with Nick James and CatieBenson in the front row. The experienced AlyciaWashington locks up with Kristine Sommerin the second row.

Nicole Strasko comes in at flanker, while Bui Baravilala (flyhalf) and Sarah Levy (wing) also get starts.

Also noteworthy is that Emily Henrich, who just finished her freshman year in college earlier this year, and won the MA Sorensen Award as the top collegiate player in the country, was named the team's vice-captain, backing up Kate Zackary. The Orchard Park, NY native is only two weeks past her 20thbirthday.  

Hoping For Improvement

On Wednesday, the USA and Canada faced off on a wet and rainy morning in the first matchup of the Can Am Series. The game was called two minutes early due to lightning, but it was a done deal by then with Canada shutting down the USA 19-0.

Handling errors were rampant throughout the game as the United States had multiple scoring opportunities halted by knock-ons.

"Full credit to Canada," said Cain. "They highlighted the importance of taking your opportunities when they present themselves and were very clinical in such wet conditions. We are really looking forward to the continued challenges they bring with both their style, intensity and physicality. 

"Having just a few days between games allows us to get back out there and deal with the frustrations from our first game, being held up and knocking the ball over the try line four times. Yes this does show how threatening we can be even in such terrible conditions and against a top-four team in the world. It's been great to see the players continued development of skills and choices of how we create through run-pass-kick options as this is something we have been consciously exploring to help the players layer up their tactical decision making.

"With our aspiration of catching up to and breaking into the top four in the world, the small details really matter with everything we do, especially when points present themselves to us."