That berth to the 2016 Olympic Games is still a hope for all eight women’s teams competing at the NACRA 7s qualifier, but the USA and Mexico have emerged as the favorites for the final. Tomorrow begins the Cup quarterfinals, with the championship contested at 5:04 p.m. ET.

The USA was the class of the tournament, going 3-0 through pool play and outscoring opponents 169-0. Scrumhalf Alex Kelter led all point scorers with 31 (1 try, 13 conversions), while three teammates – Lauren Doyle, Kelly Griffin, Kristen Thomas – ended the day with five tries apiece. All told, 10 Americans scored on the day, including newcomers Carmen Farmer and Richelle Stephens, who bookend the Eagles’ age spectrum.

“We focus on being in the moment and staying present,” Kelter told Alex Goff, who is commentating the NACRA 7s in Cary, N.C. “Execution is one of our themes, as well as listening and focusing and talking and communicating with each other.

“I think we want to work on keep running – getting wide and keep running,” Kelter added in spite of the massive scores the Eagles have posted. “We are in really good shape. Ric’s made us run.”

The USA Women are far and away the favorites for the tournament win, but USA coach Ric Suggitt is making sure the team stays driven.

“Ric’s proud of us on the inside; on the outside he wants us to do a lot more,” Kelter said. “He shows to us that we can do more and it’s going to show out there tomorrow.”

Mexico went undefeated in Pool B, defeating Bahamas 31-0, Guyana 27-7, and Trinidad & Tobago 29-7. Canadian coach Robin MacDowell has been working with the squad for the previous year, shaping up the team for the qualifier and beyond. MacDowell took the team to the Hong Kong 7s, and since then has been focusing on defense and quick support to the breakdowns. Improvements in those areas, as well as general skills, has allowed the offense to open up.

“We want to play smart 7s and that is, ‘Make the ball do the work,’” MacDowell said. “A lot of teams are using their natural flare to make something happen. Trinidad was able to hold us in the first two minutes of the game, but our system works, and it opened up some space for us.”

Some leaders have emerged, and MacDowell is happy how Andrea Rodriguez performed on the day.

“She’s on form and had a great fend in the first game – we were working on her straight arm,” said MacDowell, who also employs Rodriguez at his brewery. “She’s worked on her decision-making and fitness.”

Captain Rosa Riviera is also a major influence. She’s been in the program for the last few years and has witnessed the improvement in passing accuracy and communication – skills on which the squad concentrates. The skipper is an example for that evolution, and showed as much when she scored a nice try against Trinidad & Tobago, hitting a hole and opting not to pass.

“In the huddle before the T&T game, we talked about [having] to focus,” Riviera explained. “We have to pass the ball fast, and stay away from contact. They are big girls. We don’t have the size, and the speed.”

The team will have to follow that strategy tomorrow as well, especially if it makes it to the final against, presumably, the USA. The Eagles were devastating in the contact area - especially Kelter, Joanne Fa'avesi, Griffin - turning over ball to produce many scoring opportunities.

“I’m just happy with our team and the way we played, and how we played together,” Kelter said. “We’re thinking about an end goal and hopefully we can keep improving and reach that goal.”

The USA begins the knockouts against the Bahamas at 9:44 a.m. ET, while Mexico takes on Barbados at 10:06 a.m.