CARY, N.C. - The Women's Eagles Sevens trounced Jamaica, 53-5, in the 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships Cup Semifinal Sunday for a berth in the Final at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The U.S. will play Mexico with a place at the Games of the XXXI Olympiad - the first to include Rugby Sevens on the Games Program - at stake at 5:04 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast live on USA Rugby TV.
For the fifth time in as many matches, the Eagles began the Semifinal with a try from the opening kickoff. Richelle Stephens caught the kick for possession, and the U.S. sent it out wide to Alev Kelter, who pushed aside one tackler before running 50 meters for the try.
The Eagles were right back at it after the ensuing restart, with Kate Zackary forcing a turnover and Lauren Doyle keeping the ball in her teams' hands in a ruck outside the try zone. It took just a few passes to the other side of the pitch for a Zackary try.
Zackary scored her second on the restart after the ball bounced towards the try line, not finding the hands of a Jamaican. Kristen Thomas broke a couple of tackles with fends, spins, and constantly-moving legs for a try and Doyle dotted down for her seventh try of the tournament for a 29-0 halftime lead.
Melissa Fowler continued the scoring on the other side of the break before Stephens set up a nifty play with an offload to Kelter. 'Chips' found Doyle on the wing for a 41-0 lead, but Jamaica ended the Eagles' shutout streak at WakeMed Soccer Park at nine halves and 10 minutes with a try in the corner.
Carmen Farmer supported Lorrie Clifford's lengthy run down the left-hand touch line in the 12th minute and Hannah Lopez dotted down for the 53-5 final score.
Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago, 15-0, in the second Cup Semifinal for an all-North American Cup Final at the 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships. The winner will represent the North America Caribbean Rugby Association at the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:04 p.m. ET at the main stadium.
Women's Eagles Sevens | v. Jamaica
3. Kate Zackary
4. Alev Kelter
6. Lauren Doyle
10. Hannah Lopez
11. Lorrie Clifford
12. Carmen Farmer
Women's Eagles Sevens | 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships
v. Jamaica - W 45-0
v. Barbados - W 74-0
v. Cayman Islands - W 50-0
Cup QF v. Bahamas - W 59-0
Cup SF v. Jamaica - W 53-5
Cup Final v. Mexico - Sunday, June 14 - 5:04 p.m. ET
