Difference between revisions of "2002 Final Four Results and comments"

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Despite the overcast, the threat of rain subsided as we approached the
 
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
 
whistle, but the winds stayed out of the south and were certainly in
the
+
the 25-30 kt range.
25-30 kt range.
+
 
 
Just like Saturday, it was cold and windy, felt like the Zoo w/ air.
 
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
 
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
 
Saturday.  Penn State took advantage of the wind and plenty of AF
 
penalties.
 
penalties.
 +
 
For most of the first 25 minutes of the half, Penn State kept the ball
 
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
 
deep in the AF end of the field.  The AF defense turned away attack
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State  kept plenty of pressure on AF, but the Zoomie defense held and
 
State  kept plenty of pressure on AF, but the Zoomie defense held and
 
the half ended w/ Penn State ahead by seven.
 
the half ended w/ Penn State ahead by seven.
 +
 
In the second half, AF finally had the wind, but Penn State's "possession"
 
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
 
game was making it tough for AF to score.  After twenty minutes of
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expired.  Final score, AF 12, Penn State 7.
 
expired.  Final score, AF 12, Penn State 7.
  
US National Women's Collegiate Rugby Champions-Air Force!
+
 
 +
'''US National Women's Collegiate Rugby Champions-Air Force!'''
 +
 
  
 
The march to this success included the National Sweet Sweet 16's two
 
The march to this success included the National Sweet Sweet 16's two
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w/ the exception of C3C Chandra LeCompte who was a temporary sub for
 
w/ the exception of C3C Chandra LeCompte who was a temporary sub for
 
ten minutes.
 
ten minutes.
> 1    C4C Felicia White
+
 
> 2    C3C Val Ferrara
+
1    C4C Felicia White
> 3    C4C Shamika Bailey
+
2    C3C Val Ferrara
> 4    C4C Tiffany Williams
+
3    C4C Shamika Bailey
> 5    C3C Stacie Hartert
+
4    C4C Tiffany Williams
> 6    C3C Victoria Whittaker
+
5    C3C Stacie Hartert
> 7    C1C Laura McDonald
+
6    C3C Victoria Whittaker
> 8    C1C Erin Harms (Co-Captain)
+
7    C1C Laura McDonald
> 9    C3C Tina Williams
+
8    C1C Erin Harms (Co-Captain)
> 10  C2C Tess Labowitch
+
9    C3C Tina Williams
> 11  C1C Adrianna Vorderbruggen (Co-Captain)
+
10  C2C Tess Labowitch
> 12  C1C Nicole Winters
+
11  C1C Adrianna Vorderbruggen (Co-Captain)
> 13  C2C Kari James
+
12  C1C Nicole Winters
> 14  C2C Nicki Hamilton-Brown
+
13  C2C Kari James
> 15  C3C Breanna McNair
+
14  C2C Nicki Hamilton-Brown
>
+
15  C3C Breanna McNair
 +
 
 
Other players who've been integral to this team success and who made
 
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
 
this trip are: C2C Missy Smith C4C Leslie Kastrop C4C Cara Rotering
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Cadet-in-Charge, C2C Eva Belanger
 
Cadet-in-Charge, C2C Eva Belanger
 
It's been a great run and will be a shame if this team has to play
 
intramurals for both semesters next year and miss the practice
 
sessions that led to this success.
 

Revision as of 16:18, 18 September 2016

After beating Illinois 7-5 on Saturday, 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