View source for 2002 Final Four Results and comments


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(per LtCol Skip Shackelford)

After beating Illinois 7-5 on Saturday in overtime, AF faced Penn State on Sunday
for the National Championship.  It was a windy day w/ plenty of overcast.
Despite the overcast, the threat of rain subsided as we approached the
whistle, but the winds stayed out of the south and were certainly in
the 25-30 kt range.

Just like Saturday, it was cold and windy, felt like the Zoo w/ air.
Loosing the toss, the Zoomies played into the wind, much like most of
Saturday.  Penn State took advantage of the wind and plenty of AF
penalties.

For most of the first 25 minutes of the half, Penn State kept the ball
deep in the AF end of the field.  The AF defense turned away attack
after attack, but at the 30th minute of play Penn State pushed across
for five points. In the horrific wind, the Penn State kicker converted
and the score was Penn State 7, AF 0.  For the next ten minutes Penn
State  kept plenty of pressure on AF, but the Zoomie defense held and
the half ended w/ Penn State ahead by seven.

In the second half, AF finally had the wind, but Penn State's "possession"
game was making it tough for AF to score.  After twenty minutes of
play, most of it in the Penn State half of the field, C4C Tiffany
Williams was part of a great attack of forwards that pushed the ball
across to give AF its first points of the match.  Unable to convert
the kick in the windy conditions, the score was now Penn State 7, AF
5.  The match continued with AF maintaining pressure on Penn State,
but their defense was solid against a range of attacking strategies.
At the 27th minute of the half, C1C Erin Harms took the ball from a
five meter penalty kick, and bulled her way through the Penn State
defenders to give the AF a 10 - 7 lead.  This time, despite the stiff
wind and a kicking position from an extreme angle, C1C Adrianna
Vorderbruggen converted to give the AF a 12-7 lead over Penn State.
With emotions high, AF and Penn State played a seesaw match until time
expired.  Final score, AF 12, Penn State 7.


'''US National Women's Collegiate Rugby Champions-Air Force!'''


The march to this success included the National Sweet Sweet 16's two
matches and the two matches this weekend.  In 340 minutes of rugby at
the highest level for collegiate women, AF had no injuries.  It's a
testament to the cadets' commitment to the team's conditioning and
practice regiman.

Another "win" for the team was the selection of C1C Laura McDonald as
the Final Four Tournaments MVP.  Given the great teams and players
from Penn State, Illinois, and Navy, this honor was especially
significant for Laura and the terrific performance she had in these
two games.

The following players were the starters and played the full 80 minutes
w/ the exception of C3C Chandra LeCompte who was a temporary sub for
ten minutes.

1    C4C Felicia White

2    C3C Val Ferrara

3    C4C Shamika Bailey

4    C4C Tiffany Williams

5    C3C Stacie Hartert

6    C3C Victoria Whittaker

7    C1C Laura McDonald

8    C1C Erin Harms (Co-Captain)

9    C3C Tina Williams

10  C2C Tess Labowitch

11  C1C Adrianna Vorderbruggen (Co-Captain)

12  C1C Nicole Winters

13  C2C Kari James

14  C2C Nicki Hamilton-Brown

15  C3C Breanna McNair

Other players who've been integral to this team success and who made
this trip are: C2C Missy Smith, C4C Leslie Kastrop, C4C Cara Rotering,
C4C Kelly Politte, C4C Christina Daluz, C4C Erin Smith, C4C Rachel Dietz,
C4C Kathy Delgiorno

Cadet-in-Charge, C2C Eva Belanger

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