It's down to Sunday for the USA women to make the podium in the SVNS World Championships.
The Eagles have put aside a somewhat iffy performance in Hong Kong to make a charge to the top three.
With World Rugby 7s Player of the Year finalist, Ariana Ramsey, in excellent form, and World Rugby 7s Newcomer of the Year, Tahna Wilfley, making an impact, the Eagles started on fire against Great Britain in Friday's opener.
The one who was big for them in that game was New Yorker Su Adegoke, who combined elusiveness and strength in contact to score two. With Kristi Kirshe and Kaylan Canett providing that veteran connection, the quicker players, Ramsey, Erica Coulibaly, torched GB for tries.
The only blemish was an unfortunate tackle in the air by Sereana Vulaono, resulting in a red card for the youngster.
In a defensive battle with a tenacious Spain team, the Eagles had to work for it to get their second win.
Spain's power in the tackle, forcing the USA defense to clump up, led to a 10-0 lead for the Lions. And then with time up in the first half and nothing much going on, Eagle Kaylen Thomas skated wide, and turned the corner to go in from long range.
That turned the game around.
And yes Spain scored to make it 15-7, but the USA was in with a shout. Late in the match a long period of possession by the Americans fatigued the Spanish defense a bit, and this time Coulibaly cruised at an angle, and then burst through a gap.
Coulibaly had superb form and power in the run, and Spain had very little left.
Spain had the ball with less than a minute to go, but were penalized for sealing-off. The USA took the scrum at the middle of the field, and Ramsey, at scrumhalf, circled around the right side and was gone, showing why she has a chance at the top player in the circuit.
That was the ballgame, 19-15.
