The Lady Lions won the 2017 USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens National Championship with a 31-12 victory over rival Life University Sunday evening at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.  It's the first national title of any kind for the Lindenwood women's rugby program.

The match went back and forth in the first half, but the Lady Lions were able to pull away in the second.  AnnaKaren Pedraza put Lindenwood in front with a score in the second minute, but the Running Eagles answered with a try and conversion to take a 7-5 lead.  Hannah Gauthreaux dotted down just before the break to give the Lady Lions an advantage that they would not relinquish at 12-7.

A try from Natalie Kosko and two from McKenzie Hawkins stretched the lead to 31-7 in the first five minutes of the second half before Life crossed the line in the final minute. 

Hawkins also booted three conversions in relief of Richelle Stephens, who suffered an injury early in the contest, to lead Lindenwood with 21 points, but it was a team effort all weekend, as Head Coach Billy Nicholas pointed out.

"All 15 players on the roster were suited up this weekend for a true team victory," he noted.  "It was the most competitive sevens bracket I have ever seen in the women's game, and to finish as national champions means even more against such great opponents."

The Lady Lions raced through pool play with a perfect 3-0 record on Saturday, outscoring their opponents 110-10.  They followed that performance with a 17-0 shutout of Michigan in the Cup quarterfinals and 21-0 blanking of Central Washington in the Cup semifinals on Sunday. 

Over the course of six matches, 12 different players posted points for Lindenwood, led by 45 from Gauthreaux on nine tries, which earned her MVP honors.  Stephens had 24 on 12 conversions, Hawkins 23 on three tries and four conversions, and Kosko 20 on four conversions.  Pedraza, Jennese Bacon, Dana Olsen, Ariana Lewis, and Caring De Freitas each had two tries, and Kendal McCracken, Nika Paogofie-Buyten, and Morgan Courtney each dotted down once.

Coach Nicholas reflected on the first national title.

"This is an amazing accomplishment for the team in our journey," he said.  "We have had an amazing year, finishing second in the D1 Elite 15's and now winning the USA Rugby National Sevens.  This championship is for every one of our teammates, 15's and sevens.  It is for the players, coaches, families, and friends, and for our school.  All of their support has been instrumental."

With the six victories over the weekend, women's rugby improved its record to 33-3 overall, but the season is not done quite yet.  The Lady Lions will travel to Chester, Pennsylvania for the Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC 7's) June 3-4 at Talen Energy Stadium.  Last year, Lindenwood finished second at the event, falling to Life University 19-10.