The USA Women's Eagles Sevens take 6th place at the HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, improving on their 8th place finish in the last Vancouver stop.
With wins against Brazil and China, the USA Women Sevens significantly narrowed margins on their scoreline against New Zealand from their meeting last month. A tough Cup Quarterfinal against Australia landed the Americans in the 5th Place playoff, where the Fijian defense was sturdy, only allowing the USA one trip to the tryline.
When asked about the improved margin against New Zealand and overall performance, Head Coach, Emilie Bydwell said, “The New Zealand game was a highlight of the weekend from a perspective that we showed up to compete, and didn’t relent for the duration of the game. We saw some improvements in some areas that we have been building, the game also highlighted where specifically we need to continue growing. It was fantastic to see our players backing themselves and creating some special tries. To put themselves in a position where we forced a turnover and created another try scoring opportunity at the end of the game was encouraging. While we know we still have so much growing to do, we took a step in the right direction in that game.”
Looking ahead to Singapore in five short days, Bydwell added, “We are very fortunate to have another immediate chance to compete next weekend. We are continuing to learn about ourselves as a team and figure out what is required technically, tactically and psychologically. We know the challenge in front of us with our pool (USA, Canada, Great Britain) and we want to attack the weekend with two quarterfinal opportunities that will test both our progress in how we function effectively as a unit, and how we deliver collective focus and determination under pressure.”
In pool play, the USA opened against Brazil. Early tries from Nia Toliver and Spiff Sedrick set the tone going into half time. Ariana Ramsey cements the trend putting on the gas to dot down after the restart and Autumn Locicero teases with a show and go, moving the defense to get over the line. Locicero gets the double within the same minute off a ball from Su Adegoke to take another try and seal the win. Harnessing the same momentum, the USA Women have some reckoning to deal with from last month’s contest against the Black Ferns. New Zealand took points early, but not without Ramsey having her say and finding space to put the USA on the board. The kiwis respond, but the USA defense is not making it easy. Toliver shows her strength bouncing off defenders and speed to open up and take points before Kirshe capitalises on a moment of confusion and runs a 70 yard try, lessening margins on the scoreline they left in Vancouver.
USA stretched their defensive prowess against China when a yellow card brought the Eagles down one player. China capitalized on the overlap to find space on the outside and equalise on an Alena Olsen try just before half time. On the restart, China again manipulated space to find a gap inside for a second try, but Ariana Ramsey returned to the pitch with a vengeance and immediately got her hands on the ball and took off in a sprint right under the sticks, with the conversion slotted, bringing the USA back in the lead. The Women’s Sevens took the rest in stride with Alyssa Porter getting over the line before China was shown a yellow card and Autumn Locicero took advantage of the added space to run through China’s line.
Going 2 for 3 in pool play, the USA earned their spot in the Cup Quarterfinal and took on Australia who immediately pressured the American defense. Ramsey and Toliver both are on the hunt for points but can't finish. The USA needed the ball in hand to make some headway against the Wallaroos. Captain Kristi Kirshe finally gets possession and finds space to crash over the line, but it is not enough to compete with the relentless Australian attacking side.
In the 5th Place Play- Off, Fiji found the line first, but a long kick and chase down from Sammy Sullivan swung a shift in momentum and the USA reignited their prowess on attack. Ariana Ramsey collected on a Fijian handling error and put on the afterburners to level the score just before half time. Fiji broke through on the restart and the Eagles made their best efforts to respond, but the Fijian defense locked them out and forced the USA to finish in 6th place.
USA Women’s Sevens will head over to Singapore for the next stop of HSBC SVNS series before returning home for the chance to play in front of a home crowd at the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles May 3-4. Tickets available at lasevensrugby.com
| Name | SVNS Tournaments |
|---|---|
| 1. Ariana Ramsey | 12 |
| 3. Kayla Canett | 34 |
| 6. Alena Olsen | 29 |
| 12. Kristi Kirshe (C) | 28 |
| 15. Rachel Strasdas | 6 |
| 17. Spiff Sedrick (C) | 21 |
| 20. Autumn LoCicero | 5 |
| 22. Sammy Sullivan | 15 |
| 24. Su Adegoke | 5 |
| 28. Sariah Ibarra | 5 |
| 29. Hann Humphreys | 4 |
| 32. Alyssa Porter | 5 |
| 33. Nia Toliver | 4 |
Emilie Bydwell | Head Coach
Zack Test | Assistant Coach
Trey Ford | Head of Athletic Performance
Nicole Titmas | Manager of Medical Services; Head Athletic Trainer
Peter Haberl | Sport Psychologist
Liz Strohecker | Head of Operations – Sevens
Tries: N. Toliver, S. Sedrick, A. Ramsey, A Locicero (2)
Conv: S. Ibarra, K. Canett
Tries: T. A. Ramsey, N. Toliver, K. Kirshe
Conv: K. Canett, S. Ibarra (2)
Tries: A. Olsen, A. Porter, A. Ramsey, A Locicero
Conv: S. Ibarra, K. Canett
Tries: K. Kirshe
Tries: A. Ramsey
Conv: K. Canett
