CHULA VISTA, CA. - The USA Women’s National Team XVs will conclude it’s 2019 Can Am Series on Sunday, November 24 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. Kick off is set for 2 PM PT on florugby.com with open admission for all fans.
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MATCH-DAY 23
Head Coach Rob Cain has made seven changes to the match-day 23 with multiple finishers from last game rotating into the starting XV.
The front row will see newly capped Kathryn Treder and veteran Nick James in at hooker and prop, respectively, with Alycia Washington and Nicole Strasko starting at lock and flanker.
Backs will see Bui Baravilala start at flyhalf while Sarah Levy comes in at wing for her first appearance since the Autumn Internationals 2018. Like Levy, Ashlee Byrge could also see her first minutes of the November series with the reserves.
The match-day 23 owns 162 cumulative test caps with all five players who debuted last week back in the squad.
STARTERS
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS |
| 1. Catie Benson | Prop | Life West Gladiatrix | 22 |
| 2. Kathryn Treder | Hooker | Beantown Rugby | 1 |
| 3. Nick James | Prop | Houston Athletic | 11 |
| 4. Kristine Sommer | Lock | Seattle Saracens | 12 |
| 5. Alycia Washington | Lock | New York Rugby | 21 |
| 6. Nicole Strasko | Flanker | Life West Gladiatrix | 6 |
| 7. Kate Zackary (C) | Flanker | San Diego Surfers | 14 |
| 8. Kathryn Johnson | No. 8 | Twin City Amazon | 1 |
| 9. Carly Waters | Scrumhalf | Glendale Merlins | 3 |
| 10. Bui Baravilala | Flyhalf | San Diego Surfers | 10 |
| 11. Sarah Levy | Wing | New York Rugby | 1 |
| 12. Amy Naber-Bonte | Center | Life West Gladiatrix | 5 |
| 13. Emily Henrich (VC) | Center | USA Sevens | 7 |
| 14. Jennine Duncan | Wing | Seattle Saracens | 6 |
| 15. Leti Hingano | Fullback | Life West Gladiatrix | 1 |
RESERVES
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS |
| 16. Joanna Kitlinski | Reserve | Glendale Merlins | 13 |
| 17. Maya Learned | Reserve | Glendale Merlins | 1 |
| 18. Charli Jacoby | Reserve | Chicago North Shore | 5 |
| 19. Frieda Fetuu | Reserve | Life West Gladiatrix | 1 |
| 20. Rachel Johnson | Reserve | Oregon Sports Union | 6 |
| 21. Ashlee Byrge | Reserve | USA Sevens | 4 |
| 22. Gabriella Cantorna | Reserve | Glendale Merlins | 7 |
| 23. Kaitlyn Broughton | Reserve | Glendale Merlins | 4 |
STAFF
Director of Women’s High Performance | Emilie Bydwell
Head Coach | Rob Cain
Assistant Coach | Jamie Burke
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Assistant Coach Rich Ashfield
Coach/Team Manager | Jenny Lui
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach | Ian Jones
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach | Conor Sweeney
Head Performance Analyst | Dave Gardner
Assistant Performance Analyst | Callum Howells
Team Doctor | Terrence Cronin
Athletic Trainer | Bri Arsenault
Athletic Trainer | Katherine Henry
LAST MATCHUP | United States 0-19 Canada
On Wednesday, the USA and Canada faced off on a wet and rainy morning in the first matchup of the Can Am Series. Through 78 minutes, with the game called off early due to lightning, both teams battled through the adversity of the weather to find their attacking edge.
Canada spent the first several minutes inside the U.S. 22; and despite a valiant effort by the Eagles defense through each set piece, the Canadians scored.
Handling errors were rampant throughout the game as the United States had multiple scoring opportunities halted by knock ons. Though incredibly hard fought, Canada managed to put two more tries on the board, first in the corner right before halftime, and next by sneaking through a gap at the beginning of the second half.
Despite the challenges, the Women’s Eagles displayed promising strides with big hits, convincing runs and an increase in kicking strategy to build on in match two.
THIS MATCHUP | United States vs Canada
Sunday’s matchup will serve as the finale to the 2019 Can Ams with the winner for the full series being identified on aggregate score.
Following the loss earlier this week, Canada now sits atop the overall record of both teams.
Canada’s sharp response to the kickchase and ability to create space will be two of the biggest challenges for the United States to counter. Similarly, threatening runs and a more physical defensive effort by the U.S. will create an exciting and well-contested finale to the Autumn Internationals.
COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH ROB CAIN
"Full credit to Canada, they highlighted the importance of taking your opportunities when they present themselves and were very clinical in such wet conditions. We are really looking forward to the continued challenges they bring with both their style, intensity and physicality.
"Having just a few days between games allows us to get back out there and deal with the frustrations from our first game, being held up and knocking the ball over the try line four times. Yes this does show how threatening we can be even in such terrible conditions and against a top 4 team in the world. It's been great to see the players continued development of skills and choices of how we create through run-pass-kick options as this is something we have been consciously exploring to help the players layer up their tactical decision making.
"With our aspiration of catching up to and breaking into the top four in the world, the small details really matter with everything we do, especially when points present themselves to us.'
WHERE TO WATCH
The finale to the November Can-Am Series can be streamed LIVE on florugby.com in the United States and Canada. Score updates will be posted on USA Rugby’s Twitter channels as well as a match report published within 90 minutes of full time.
OPEN ADMISSION
Admission is open to all fans for the finale of the Can Am Series. The event takes place at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista.
