The MARFU Under 23 Women's All Star team overcame a 4 try deficit with 60 minutes expired to win the the 2007 Under 23 National All Star Championship in Blaine, MN.
On Friday June 15, the Sharks faced the Midwest Thunderbirds, a perennial tournament favorite and tournament winner from 2000-2005. The match was fast and physical as the Mid Atlantic and Midwest traded tries. In the end, MARFU edged out the Midwest by kicks, with a final score 26-24. Interestingly enough, in this tournament last year, the Midwest actually defeated MARFU by a 2 point margin, on the strength of their placekicking.
In the other Tier A match, the Southern California Griffins shocked last year's winners, the West Mustangs, to earn a berth in the finals.
MARFU faced SoCal at 2:30 PM Sunday June 17th, in 95 degree heat. A hot dry wind was blowing at the kickoff, and continued throughout the game. The Griffins came out hard and fast, dominating at the point of contact and repeatedly turning over MARFU ball. Within minutes speedy Penn State flanker Allison Worman was out of the game with injury, followed just a few minutes later by American University phenom Sheri Villa. Westchester's Katy Black moved to from 3 to 7, as Fontaine Lloyd shifted to hooker and the hard hits kept coming. It seemed that MARFU was doomed. Center Kelly Griffin was astounding for SoCal, repeatedly slipping through the defense, putting two early tries on the board.
Twenty minutes into the game, the Griffins were penalized near the posts, and flanker/vice captain Emily Tunney asked for points. With the hot wind blowing, all were skeptical. Tunney slotted the conversion to bring the score up at 10-3.
Still SoCal kept coming. Scrumhalf Alexis Volen sniped at the fringe and snuck into the tryzone, and Griffin got her third try of the game as the MARFU defense fought to adjust. With just a few minutes to the half MARFU's bench already depleted, and practically no posession, SoCal seemed primed to crack the match wide open.
Just before the half time whistle, MARFU got their hands on the ball and Penn State #8 Kate Daley slotted into the back line. She took a wide running line to the corner, and grounded the ball. MARFU had it's first try of the match as the half ran out.
The team regrouped, determined to stop #12 from attacking, and committed to ball retention and solid team play. Soon after the whistle, Volen found a hole in the MARFU defense to put in yet another SoCal try. 25-8 SoCal, the clock was running out. At 20 minutes prior to the end game whistle, both teams were given water to battle the horrific heat. The team rallied and decided, not only were they not beaten, they wanted to win.
And the trys started coming. The team settled into a controlled, but wickedly fast game, and little by little began to dominate. First the tackle, then the scrums, then the breakdown. With dangerous players at positions all over the field, the MARFU team began a systematic plan of attack. First they would attack the fringe to get the team moving forward. Then the midfield, to draw in defenders. Finally wide, to the speedy wings. Powerhouse fullback Vanesha McGee combined with wing Sarah Miller to make the first long distance run, tightening the scoreline (25-13 SoCal). Next it was Princeton wing Liz Inkellis, turning the corner and grounding beneath the post. With the second try of the half converted and just a few moments to go, MARFU was within 5 (25-20 SoCal). In a beautiful passage of multiphase rugby, MARFU penetrated first as the breakdown - Amber Benlian moved the ball to McGee in the midfield who drew in the tacklers. Support was there and seemingly within an instant scrumhalf Khanh Vu had the ball out and Inkellis was rounding the corner past the SoCal defense. As she sped 70 meters untouched to score the tying points, the sideline went wild. Grounding beneath the post, kicker Emily Tunney was able to slot the go-ahead conversion, putting MARFU ahead for the first time in the match, 27-25, with two minutes to play.
SoCal battled back in the remaining minutes, but the damage had already been done. As the clock ticked out of time, and the referee declared "last play", MARFU booted the ball into touch, winning their first every U23 National All Star Championship.
Congratulations to all the players who participated in the program this year - those who attended the NASC as well as the developing players who will take their place with the team next year. In addition to the regular coaches and management, special thanks goes out to all the people who took their personal time and money to help facilitate the team's success.
Special thanks to Sue Parker, Bill Lucas, Chris Hermann, Angie Marfisi, Sheara Williamson, Ginger Stringer, Pete Steinberg and Bill Birch for all their efforts on site and with preparation at home.
As an added bonus, 5 MARFU U23 players plus 2 alternates were named to the USA U23 National Team that will tour New Zealand this summer, and an additional 4 players were named to the USA U23 Developmental Pool.
Amber Benlian, Maryland Stingers (c)
Katy Black, Westchester University
Kathleen Brady, James Madision
Julia Brown, University of Delaware
Laurie Bryan, Virginia Tech
Stephanie Burkhardt, Westchester University
Nicole Coffineau, Virginia Tech
Kate Daley, Penn State
Allison Dolan, LaSalle University
Liz Inkellis, Princeton
Lori Kenuk, University of Delaware
Allurie Kephart, Penn State
Fontaine Lloyd, Penn State
Vanesha McGee, Philadelphia Women (vc)
Sarah Miller, James Madison
Allison Myers, Philadelphia Women
Carrie Perdue, University of Virginia
Emily Shiflett, University of Virginia
Emily Tunney, Philadelphia Women (vc)
Elizabeth Walsh, University of Delaware
Lauren Rosso, Penn State
Sheri Villa, American University
Khanh Vu, Penn State
Rachel Warden, NoVa
Alison Worman, Penn State
Staff:
Lisa E Rosen - Head Coach
Roshna Wunderlich - Assistant Coach
Deb Yates - Manager
Jen LaFalce - Athletic Trainer
