Positive Steps for USA Women 7s Team in Vancouver
Positive Steps for USA Women 7s Team in Vancouver
The USA Women's 7s outing in Vancouver was small, but a baby step toward the next chapter.
The Eagles beat Canada twice, by the same 22-12 score in fact, and slammed Mexico (who, unfortunately weren't able to score a point all weekend), but could not get past Great Britain, losing 41-12 in Pool Play and 34-12 in the final.
Those four teams were the only women's teams in competition, which is why it was called a Fast Four.
This USA team is a mixture of experienced and new players, but even the veterans haven't been around too long. The purpose is to get them more experience in international 7s and to see who rises to the top. Overall the performances were encouraging. Jaz Gray and Nia Toliver found the tryline consistently—both scored at least once in four of the five games— they started to find ways to work together, and they didn't buckle.
Tied with Canada at halftime of the semifinal, the Eagles were the ones who took control in the second half, not the home team.
Down 12-0 against Great Britain in the final, they fought back to tie the game. Yes, GB pulled away in the second half, but it was an improved effort against a pretty season British team. It's a positive moment.
“Between two days we had a lot of growth, we have a lot of young kids in this and got a lot of veterans and we haven’t been together that long," said Steph Rovetti, one of the more experienced members of the team. "The connection and the growth is there and I think we’re at the stage right now where we’re just building and building. Honestly, from Game One to Game Five there was tremendous growth, so we’re really happy with that.”
Of the 13 players in Canada for the two tournaments, nine have never played in a World Series event, and another, Lauren Thunen, has played in one.
Pool Play
USA 22 Canada 12
Tries: Toliver 2, Canett, Gray
Convs: Canett
USA 62 Mexico 0
Tries: Gray 3, Tausinga, Levy 3, A'au, Canett, Toliver
Convs: Sedrick 2, Canett 4
USA 12 Great Britain 41
Tries: Rovetti, Toliver
Convs: Canett
Semifinal
USA 22 Canada 12
Tries: Toliver, Gray, Fa'avesi, Rovetti
Convs: Canett
Final
USA 12 Great Britain 34
Tries: Harris-Jones, Gray
Convs: Canett
USA Squad for Vancouver and also for next week's tournament in Edmonton:
Sui A’au, Prop / Center
Kayla Canett, SH/FH
Nana Fa’avesi, Hooker / SH
Jazmine Gray, Wing
Summer Harris Jones, Prop / Hooker
Emily Fulbrook, Prop / Hooker
Sarah Levy, Center
Stephanie Rovetti, Flyhalf/Wing
Alex Sedrick, Halfback/Flyhalf
Rachel Strasdas, Hooker
Salote Tausinga, Prop / Center
Lauren Thunen, Prop
Nia Toliver, Prop / Wing
USA Staff
Director of Women’s High Performance | Emilie Bydwell
Strength & Conditioning | Joshua Schnell
Athletic Trainer | Hilary Stepansky