Women Defeat Canada, Finish 5th at World Cup

The Women’s National Team will return home with some solace after defeating their arch-rival Canada 23-20 to take 5th place at the Women’s World Cup. After starting the tournament off slowly, the USA played better and better down the stretch. Their increasingly better play culminated in the big win over the Canadians.

The Eagles hit their stride in the final match and played well when it really mattered.  This was the Eagles’ most tightly contested match of the World Cup with the USA and Canada switching the lead frequently throughout the match.
 
The Canadians struck early, having scored a penalty, a try, and a conversion within the first ten minutes of the match.  Down by ten points early, the USA needed to wake up.  And fast.  Thanks to the boot of the American flyhalf, Christy Ringgenberg, the USA was brought back into the match.  The pivot slotted two penalties for her side and brought the USA within four points. 

Canadian center, Sarah Ulmer, was yellow carded in the 25th minute and would spend ten minutes in the bin, giving the Americans a one player advantage in which they made sure to capitalize. 

Ashley English gave the USA the lead as she scored in the 30th minute, a missed conversion brought the scores to 11-10.  The Canadians would answer back with a try of their own as the Canadian second-rower Megan Gibbs went over in the 35th minute.  The conversion was good, and left the halftime score at 17-11 in favor of Canada.  

The second half belonged to the United States. The USA came out of halftime with an impetus that was slow to come in the first half.  Inside center, Lynelle Kugler went over in the second minute of the half and a conversion from Ringgenberg brought the score to 18-17.

Speedster Vanesha McGee added another try to the American tally only five minutes after Kugler’s try.  Ringgenberg’s conversion missed the mark leaving the score at 23-17 in favor of the USA, but giving a glimmer of hope to Canada. 

The USA held firm, allowing only a penalty goal for the Canadians in the 66th minute.  Canada was within three points for rest of the match, but the American lines held off the Canadians anto win the match 23-20.
 
“We are really proud of how the team came together for our last World Cup match. Today we played smart rugby, maintained possession, and came out with a win,” said captain Ashley English.
 
Head coach Kathy Flores was pleased with the win, and also gracious to the Canadians, a team she has come to know extremely well both as a player and as a coach.
 
“Ultimately, I’m happy we maintained our fifth place standing. I know the players have grown with each International experience. We knew the match would be tight, and as much as we are rivals, we greatly appreciate having Canada as a consistent opponent,” said head coach, Kathy Flores.
 
The Eagles finished the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a 3-2 record, with the two losses coming in pool play.  The losses to England and Ireland shut out American hopes for a semi-final berth, but the USA reacted to the two consecutive losses well. 

In their rematch against Ireland, the USA came away with a 40-3 victory, showing what the Eagles could do.  In a tightly contested fifth place playoff, they showed that they had the skill and the character to overcome adversity and put in an enormous effort in a rivalry on the World stage.