Your Scrumhalf Connection

from USA Rugby:

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The women of the Northeast Rugby Union (NRU) won the Under-23 National All-Star Championship on Sunday at the University of California – Santa Barbara.

In the Tier 1 title game, NRU defeated the Midwest Thunderbirds 25-12. NRU scored within moments of the starting whistle in an attempt to put the Thunderbirds away early. A quick try in reply from the outstanding Thunderbird wing, Tyra McGrady, was not enough to stop the clinical NRU side, whose dangerous backline tormented the Midwest all day.

NRU scrumhalf, Alyssa Baccarella, contributed heavily to her side’s victory and her precise passing game allowed the Northeast to attack the Thunderbird defense effectively and often. For Baccarella’s efforts, she earned the title of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player by National Team selectors.

The Tier 2 final between the Pacific Coast Grizzlies and the USA Under-20s was so closely fought that two overtime periods were necessary to determine a winner. The Grizzlies gave the Eagles a physical game, but the national side squeaked out a win in the closing seconds of overtime as Eagle captain Katie Johnson crossed the line for a try. The game was a promotion match, so the Under-20s will move up to Tier 1 for next year’s competition.

In the Tier 1 consolation match, the West defeated the Mid-Atlantic (MARFU) women 37-18. The West will remain in Tier 1 next year, but MARFU will drop to Tier 2.

The SoCal Griffins took on the South in the Tier 2 consolation match, shutting out the Southern women 16-0.

Its time for the U23 NASCs in Santa Barbara, CA this weekend! The Senior NASCs was great with several upsets, maybe we will see the same with the U23s?

UPDATE: Both events will be streamed live online via www.UStream.tv, with the Men’s Collegiate All-Star Championships show on the USARugby channel and the Women’s Under-23s shown on the USARugbyII channel. I haven’t heard if USA Rugby will be Ustreaming these games, but YSC and The Girl will be there with the West U23s so we will try to video if USA Rugby doesn’t.

As always, stay up to date with scores here, on Facebook and Twitter.

See below for the schedule and each team’s roster.

Northeast
Amanda Cleary – UMass., Amherst
Rachel Sachs – Syracuse
Evan Hoese – Radcliffe
Jill Lipari – Hofstra
Nina Eskandari – Northeastern
Katie Matthews – Bowdoin
Alyssa Baccarella – MIT
Jessica Peterson – Marist
Ali Pappas – Wellesley
Caroline Hunting – MIT
Emily Erdman – Wellesley
Amber Coutermash – Southern Vermont
Alana Melton – Beantown
Teresa Skelly – UMass., Amherst
Mary Sung – Beantown
Amy Cheeseman – UMass., Amherst
Erika Granger – MIT
Elsbeth Paige-Jeffers – Bowdoin
Liz Kelly – Rutgers
Rachelle Calixte – Radcliffe
Meaghan Reddy – Beantown
Maddie Vara – Wellesley
Krissa Wiechmann – Vassar
Naomi Oberman-Breindel – Brown
Kelsey Whitney – UMass., Amherst

Coaching staff:
Tony Brown
Bryan Hamlin
Kate Orlin
Josh Chason

Midwest
Joanna Kitlinski Grand Valley State University (C)
Kayla Baron University of Northern Iowa
Morgan Johnson North Dakota State
Tiffany Gjestvang University of Minnesota-Duluth
Jackie Osborn University of Northern Iowa
Kayleigh Hitchcock Panther Women’s Club (Pittsburgh)
Gina DeFano Northern Illinois University
Caitlin Pixler University of Northern Iowa
Alexandria Jamison Michigan State University
Emily Cameron University of Northern Iowa
Caila Ney UW-Milwaukee
Theresa Trott UW Milwaukee
Becca Brown University of Northern Iowa
Brittany Houston UW-Milwaukee
Sarah Lipa U of Illinois
Mollie Martin UW-Milwaukee
Brittany Biedenbender At-Large
Chantell Boyd Grand Valley State University
Shannon Zweber University of Northern Iowa
Tyra McGrady Indiana University
Jackie Brown Illinois State University
Alisa Ly University of Minnesota
Michelle Wong University of Michigan
Melissa Lipa Northern Illinois University

Coaching Staff:
Steve Murra Head Coach
Sue Whitwell Assistant Coach/Forwards
Roger Riley Assistant Coach
Jennifer Murra Manager
Matt Rokes Trainer

MARFU
Bennett, Hannah Drexel University
Bigelow, Elaine Princeton University
Brown, Brittany Univ. of MD
Byrne, Allison Drexel University
Cavanaugh, Erica U. of Virginia
Compito, Monique Virginia Tech *Unavailable due to conflict
Dayton, Rachel Kutztown
Dunnaville, Chastity US Naval Academy
Feinour, Brianne West Chester Univ.
Gouws, Tanya Univ. of Maryland
Hutchinson, Melissa Harrisburg Women
Johnson, Cheryl West Chester Univ.
Koplow, Grace St. Mary’s College of MD
Kriebel, Madeline West Chester Univ.
Lamm, Megan West Chester Univ.
Lee, Ashley Virginia Tech
Lucas, Kristen James River Women
Miller, Laura St. Mary’s College of MD
Monroig, Natalie Shippensburg Univ.
Nelson, Shantel American Univ.
Otto, Megan West Chester Univ.
Rooney, Kaitlyn American Univ.
Somerdyk, Moira Temple Univ.
Trujilo, Elizabeth US Naval Academy
Walter, Molly Univ. of Mary Wash.
Winter, Lauren MD Exiles

USA U20s (holding a camp as well as playing in NASCs, they have a roster of 40 as a result)
Hailey Anderson Summit, CO
Akalaini Baravilala Aliamanu Blues
Star Bollinger Cougar Women’s Rugby
Alexis Bonny Washington State
Megan Bonny Washington State
Ann Marie Bowlus UC Santa Cruise
Cassidy Davis U of Central Florida
Catherine Eichhorn Maryville, TN
Alexandra Frazier Jupiter, FL
Chelsea Garber Brown
Jozy Gessner Colorado State
Mileka Grager Washington State
Ellyn Grantham Fallbrook, CA
Keelia Harker Cougar Women’s Rugby
Becky Holmes Omaha Women
Danielle Honeycutt Hoke, NC
Katie Johnson Hopkins, MN
Brianna Klein Brookfield, WI
Mackenzie Lewis Mesa State
Hannah Lockwood Oregon State
Jasmine Mailo Aliamanu Blues
ElizabethMcCracken Nova Women
Kyandrea McKnight U of Central Florida
Mai Nguyen Brown
Brittany O’Brien U of Rhode Island
Jane Paar Navy
Catherine Parkhill U of Minnesota
Samantha Pinson Fallbrook, CA
Megan Pinson Fallbrook, CA
Brittany Rose Unattached
Rachael Ryan Wyoming
Andee Samborski Redford, MI
Jennifer Sandifer Navy
Wendy Sherman Colorado State
Rebekah Siebach Cougar Women’s Rugby
Shannon Steele U of Central Florida
Amee Svatos Canby, OR
Alycia Washington U of Connecticut
Sequoia Watson Navy
Holly Zoeller U of North Carolina

Pacific
DeCarvalho, Juliana Mudhens
Esparza, Vanessa USU
Rich, Jessica USU
Ames, Pamela Sac State
Brookins, Laura OSU
Camacho, Martha (Zully) Cal
Chapman, Delaney UCD
Falk, Sarah WWU
Green-Mitchell, Siche UOregon
Greenspan, Jenn ORSU
Hamel, Brynn Seattle U
Lessman, Margaret Seattle U
Lewis, Jackie OSU
Miller, Mashawna (Mo) UCSanta Cruz
Morris, Kelly UCD
Munson, Nic Breakers
Pascual, Angelina UC Santa Clara
Reid, Arielle UOregon
Roselin, Lisa Sac State
Sanders, Megan Breakers
Scott, Claire UCD
Steele, Nicole UOregon
Terry, Kimberly UCD
Underwood, Mika WWU
Walentowski, Jena WWU
White, Liz UCD
Woolley, Shannon USU
Zier, Christina CWU

South
Ryan Carlyle, USC
Ashley Mitchell, UCF
Zoe Sanchez, UF
Kimber Rozier, UNC
Kate Daniels, UGA
Kendall Vaughn, FSU
Corrie Coates, FSU
Dana Meschisi, FSU
Samantha Lauring, Clemson
Mary Ann Reynolds, Auburn
Katie Lorenz, UNC
Danye O’Mahoney, Auburn
Carrie Moss, UNC
Martha Wood, UNC
Cary Trump, ECU
Kimbra Nicole Merchant, UNC
Wykia Kia Macon, FSU
Ashley Hogan Harmon, USC
Cattie King, UNC
Bridget Briere, Clemson
Madeline Wilbanks, Auburn
Amonae Dobbs Brown, UGA
Emily Chosewood, Parkview HS
Erin McCroskey, UTK

West
Nick James, Texas A&M
Katie Thompson, Airfoce
Rachel Chittum, Wyoming
Stephanie Furniss, Black Ice RFC
Julia Fortkort, University of Texas
Kayla Hammond, University of New Mexico
Kayla Kahahek, Texas A&M
Kara Davis, New Mexico State University
Jess Lucia, University of Colorado
Kat McLaughlin Colorado College Rugby
Kelley Storey, Texas A&M
Simone Lumsden, University of Texas
Rebekah Knappe, Colorado State University
Amber Glasrud, University of New Mexico
Sam Miller, Mesa State College
Tina Peterson, Kansas City Jazz RFC
Marissa Cohn, University of Colorado
Becca Wezensky, University of Colorado
Kandis Ruiz, Texas A&M
Autumn Murrill, University of Texas
Jade McLaughlin, University of New Mexico
Jess Garriott, University of Northern Colorado
KC Curl, Sam Houston University
Alex Davenport, Austin Valkyries RF
Bailey Johnson, Colorado State
Katie Metkus, University of Texas
Madison Williams, Colorado State University

Coaching Staff
Angie Cranmore – Head Coach
Traci Schmidtke – Forwards Coach
Wendy Young – Backs Coach

SoCal
Jenna Anderson (UC San Diego)
Julia Anderson (San Diego Surfers)
Tia Blythe (UCLA )
Anita Bradbury (Santa Monica WRC)
Chau Bui (UCLA)
Rachel Castillo (UCLA)
Sophia Chang (UCLA)
Wing-Sheung Chui (UCLA)
Madeline Cooper (Fullerton Youth Rugby)
Andrea Foote (UC Santa Barbara )
Crystal Haynes (Las Vegas WRC)
Carrissa Hsieh (UCLA)
Yadira Ibarra (Belmont Shore WRC)
Genevieve Ireland (Orca Rugby)
Jacqueline Johnson (UCLA)
Klara Macko (Tempe WRC)
Rebecca Mendoza (UCLA)
Maria Morrissette (UCLA)
Amy Naber (Tucson Lightning)
Ella Naber (Tucson Lightning)
Angelita Ochoa (UC San Diego)
Christina Ramos (UC Santa Barbara)
Katie Seibert (UCLA)
Kristine Sommer (UC Santa Barbara)
Cassandra Tong (UCLA)
Emily Van Gulik (Claremont Colleges)

If Jeanie the Greek was still around I bet they would have predicted that the finals for the Senior NASCs would be between NRU and Pacific again this year. Last year’s final with the same teams was thrilling as well, but NRU came out on top in 2010. The Championship match is below it pits NRU vs Pacific.

For full scores and rosters, go here. The rest of the matches can be watched through archive via U-Stream. To watch these matches, please go to www.ustream.tv/usarugby.

from USA Rugby:

BLAINE, Minn. – The USA Rugby Women’s All-Star 15s Championships wrapped up on Sunday with the Northeast reclaiming the title from the Pacific Coast at the National Sports Complex in Blaine, Minn.

The Championship game saw a rematch of last year’s finalists, Northeast and Pacific Coast battling it out for the title. The Northeast controlled a majority of the match and came out the victors 34-14 to reclaim their 2008 title back from Pacific to mark their fourth National All-Star Championship title since its inception.

In the consolation Tier A match, the Collegiate All-Americans couldn’t compete against a strong Midwest Territorial Union (TU), losing in a 65-0 thrashing.

Next up it was South versus Southern Cal in the Tier B final. With both teams looking to move up to Tier A, it was ultimately the Southern Cal side that would pull off the win, beating the South, 18-13.

In the Tier B consolation, the Mid-Atlantic TU also ran away with the match against the West, winning 50-5.

To view more YSC videos hover over the heading ‘Videos’ on the navigation bar up top and choose Rugby Video Monday.

Please continue sending in your videos and I will keep posting them! Send them to wendy@scrumhalfconnection.com.

Another year has gone by and this weekend is the 2010 USA Rugby Senior All-Star NASCs! This year the event is in Blaine, MN at the Olympic Training Facility. I love playing at this facitliy because of the dorm rooms and the fields are very nice! Plus the late night trips to Cold Stone and Target have some of the best memories…

This year there is a website dedicated to the tournament that has tons of information available and YSC will be providing the live scoring. Also Shootingthegap.com will be present and they will be taking the official event photos. Lastly, USA Rugby will be providing web video again through their Ustream site and the YSC team will be helping with video and commentary again.

Below you will find the schedule and the rosters, good luck to all the teams!

SoCal
Blue¸Marea    San Diego Surfers
Chang, Joann    Belmont Shore
Fields, Casey    San Diego Surfers
Fujiwara, Toni    Tempe
Garcea¸Nicole    Santa Monica
Globerson-Lamb, Sonia    Belmont Shore
Hartos, Kirsten    San Diego Surfers
Haynes, Crystal    Las Vegas
Hemstreet, Allyson    Belmont Shore
Henneberger, Kathryn    San Diego Surfers
Henry, Elisabeth    San Diego Surfers
Herda, Socorro    San Luis Obispo
HoChee, Te Awhina    Santa Monica
Johnson, Audrey    San Diego Surfers
Lechner, Grace    Belmont Shore
Naber, Ella    Tucson
Olson, Kelly    Tempe
Pisel, Callie    Tempe
Quiles, Amanda    Tucson
Sin, Erica    Santa Monica
Stephens, Heather    Belmont Shore
Suda, Christen    Tempe
Tucker, Amber    Belmont Shore
Wang, Ann    Belmont Shore
Whitfeld, Jill    Belmont Shore
Williams, Rebecca    San Diego Surfers
Wilson, Terri    Tempe

West

Abel Ruch, Kjrsten    Kansas Jayhawks RC
Adams, Angela    Austin Valkyries Women’s RC
Bray, Francine    Austin Valkyries Women’s RC
Bridges, Stacey    At Large- West
Edinger, Amanda    Kansas Jayhawks RC
Fletcher, Amy    St. Louis Sabres WRFC
Gaines, Stephanie    St. Louis Sabres WRFC
Guiton, Pascale    St. Louis Sabres WRFC
Hays, Alison    Mid Mo Women’s RC
Hurt, Angela    Kansas City Jazz RC
Kuchar, Jennifer    St. Louis Sabres WRFC
Montoya, Jennifer    Black Ice Women’s RC
Nelson, Jennifer    Kansas City Jazz RC
Nash, Patricia St. Louis Sabres WRFC
O’Connor, Micaela    Black Ice Women’s RC
Ottens, Meredith    Austin Valkyries Women’s RC
Page, Kathryn    Texas A & M Women’s RC
Pavao, Kathryn    Glendale Women’s RC
Rasmussen, Mandy    Glendale Women’s RC
Shagam, Pattie Austin Valkyries Women’s RC
Verdick, Crystal    St. Louis Sabres WRFC
Vestal, Abigail    Kansas Jayhawks RC
Weiner, Sara    St. Louis Sabres WRFC
Wieczorek, Lindsay    St. Louis Sabres WRFC

Mid Atlantic
Liz     Hirschhorn    DC Furies
Sadie     Anderson    Penn State
Meganne    Atkins    NOVA
Stacy    Baker    Philadelphia
Ida    Bernstein    At Large
Kate     Daley    At Large
Sarah    Davis    NOVA
Liz    Dilley    DC Furies
Farrah    Douglas    At Large
Megan    Hanson    NOVA
Lisa     Henneman    Penn State
CJ    Hildereth    NOVA
Julie    Hogan    DC Furies
Christine    Lantini    Penn State
Devon     Oswiany    Penn State
Whitney    Post    Raleigh
Rachel    Primo    Maryland
Courtney    Reapsome    Harrisburg
Emily    Record    Philadelphia
Jocelyn    Richards    DC Furies
Becky    Roof    Harrisburg
Sarah    Shanley    DC Furies
Rachel    Warden    NOVA
Sheara    Williamson    Philadelphia
Annie     Zeigler    Penn State

Management
Lance    Connolly    Coach
Jessica     Hammond    Coach
Nichole    Lopes    Manager

Pacific
Kelly Karden                          ORSU
Naima Reddick                     All Blues
Hillary Hegener “Rookie”    All Blues
Tina Nesberg                     Sequoia
Tori Campbell                    Oregon
Phoebe Boone                  All Blues
Krista Gust                          ORSU
Blair Groefsema            All Blues
Lisa Butts                             All Blues
Beckett Royce                   ORSU
Katrina Logan                     Sequoia
Julie Kieu JQ                       All Blues
Amanda Van Loon           Fog
Adrienne Acosta              ORSU
Jessica Green                    Mud hens
Elaine Gardner                  All Blues
Steph Bruce                       All Blues
Victoria Folayan                All Blues
Kelly Griffin                        All Blues
Nath Marchino                  All Blues
Ashley English                   All Blues
Alicia Binggeli                     SLC Slugs
San Juanita Moreno        ORSU
Tonya Ansel                       ORSU
Ashley Kmiecik                  Mud Hens
Hannah Cho                       Sequoia
Dpeng (Crazy)                   Stanford
28.   Robin Woods                     ORSU

Northeast
Amy Daniels – Beantown
Christina Hobson – New York
Claudia Braymer – Albany
Emilie Bydwell – Beantown
Hedwig Aerts – New York
Jamie Burke – Beantown
JoAnne Ward Kos – Albany
Kathleen Ryan – Village Lions
Katie Dowty – Beantown
Katy Augustyn – Beantown
Kim Magrini – Keystone
Kittery Wagner – Beantown
Kristin Bonomo – Beantown
Lara Vivolo – New York
Laura Bilizarian – New York
Maurin Wallace – Beantown
Melanie Denham – Beantown
Phaidra Knight – New York
Rebecca Brafman – New York
Renee Astphan – Beantown
Rosie Miesner – New York
Sharon Blaney – Beantown
Sharyn Wacht – Beantown
Vanesha McGee – New York

Midwest
Katie Wurst    Prop    Amazons
Rebecca Trapp    Prop    Pittsburgh
Jen triemstra    Prop    Valkeries
Sara Bakker    Prop    Amazons
Noby Takaki    Hooker    Chicago Northshore
Gabe Fidelman    Hooker    Valkeries
Laura Gill    Hooker    Valkeries
Jenny Menke    Lock    Valkeries
Anna Brown    Lock    Amazons
Sara Walsh    Lock    Chicago Northshore
Brie Mcnally    Flanker    Chicago Northshore
Sarah Chabot    Flanker    Valkeries
Amanda Kingzett    Flanker    Amazons
Kristen Zdanczewicz    Flanker    Valkeries
Jillian Potter    #8    Valkeries
Rebecca Radtke    Scrumhalf    Amazons
Katy Hertel    Scrumhalf    Valkeries
Mel Kanuk    Flyhalf    Valkeries
Hannah Stolba    Flyhalf    Valkeries
Sylvia Bratten    Centre    Amazons
Jenny Liu    Centre    Chicago Northshore
Lynelle Kugler    Centre    Amazons
Dez Markovich    Wing    Valkeries
Kristy Lear    Wing     Valkeries
Sarah Rueter    Wing    Valkeries
Christy Ringgenberg    Fullback    Valkeries

Head Coach – Chris Hopps
Manager – Nina Ciccone

Collegiate All-Americans
Tia Blythe – UCLA
Star Bollinger – Brigham Young University
Ashley Clancy – University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Delaney Chapman – UC-Davis
Lauren Daly – University of Colorado
Kayla Ellingson - Brigham Young University
Tanya Gouws - University of Maryland
Siche Green-Mitchell - University of Oregon
Keelia Harker - Brigham Young University
Nicole James – Texas A&M
Shawnna James – Rutgers
Joanna Kitlinski - Grand Valley State
Katie Lorenz – University of North Carolina
Jessica Lucia – University of Colorado
Kaelene Lundstrom – Gustavus Adophus *training only due to conflict with Track & Field Nationals
Adetayo Mafe – Michigan State
Kathryn McCormick - University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Tyra McGrady – Indiana University
Laura Miller – Saint Mary’s College of Maryland
Maria Muscara – LaSalle University
Catherine Parkhill – University of Minnesota
Kaitlyn Rooney – American University
Kasonni Scales – Stanford University
Moira Somerdyk – Temple University
Emily Van Gulik – Claremont Colleges
Katie Weber – Iowa State

Staff
Lisa Rosen – Head Coach
Tom Waca – Assistant Coach
Angie Marfisi – Assistant Coach

South
Amy Catalino, Sumter RFC
Brie Cokos, Miami
Megan Doran, Atlanta Harlequins
Dana Esposito, Miami
Julie Freese, Columbia Bombshells
Hilari French, Baton Rouge
Carmel Glynn, Atlanta Harlequins
Carly Harrington, Atlanta Harlequins
Lindsay Hagerman, Bragg
Heather Hale, Atlanta Harlequins
Casey Heffernan, Atlanta Harlequins
Stephanie Iacobucci, Atlanta Harlequins
Katie Jenkins, Miami
Sharon Lau, Atlanta Harlequins
Lori Light, Orlando
Anne McClain, Atlanta Harlequins
Becky Martin, Charlotte Mayhem
Kari Morrison, Nashville
Cara Nocero, Atlanta Harlequins
Crystal Phillips, Miami
Carolyn Price, Sumter RFC
Beth Schlaerth, Miami
Keta Sutton, Bragg Rugby
Sue Uchneat, Clemson University
Becky Urion, Orlando
Lauren Waltz, Atlanta Harlequins

Alternates:
Tara Rowe, Jacksonville
Wendy Hill, Columbia Bombshells

Your Scrumhalf Connection is proud to sponsor the 30th Annual Ruggerfest in DC this weekend. Part of that sponsorship includes posting the brackets and live score updates on Twitter and Facebook! The Girl and I will both be in DC this weekend, come find us for a free tshirt (we will have 5 for free and more for sale).

Divisions:
Competitive: Division 1 Teams
Two Social Division

Tournament Venue:
Rosecroft Raceway

Tournament Party:
DA’s Regional Food and Drink
810 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Tournament Brackets:

Thanks to the Tournament Organizers for putting on such a great event!

Amy Shopkorn
Ryan Whited
Co-Chairs Ruggerfest 2010
ruggerfest@dcfuries.com
http://www.dcfuries.com/ruggerfest.shtml