Women's rugby claimed its first ever title at the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Sevens Championship (CRC 7's) with a 21-12 win over Penn State Sunday at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia.  In doing so, the Lady Lions won their third national championship in as many attempts this spring.

In the final match against the Nittany Lions, Lindenwood scored first when Kodi Barlow broke free and dotted down under the post.  AnnaKaren Pedraza slotted the conversion for a 7-0 advantage.  Moments later, it appeared that the Lady Lions had stopped Penn State, but a high hit was called and a penalty try awarded.  A successful conversion tied the game at seven, but Pedraza made sure it didn't stay that way as she quickly answered for Lindenwood to make it 14-7.  As the first half came to a close, Sativa Tarau –Peehikuru powered through the Nittany Lion defense and found Caring De Freitas for a try to make it 21-7 Lady Lions at the break. Lindenwood displayed solid defense in the second half, only yielding a try in the closing drive of the match for the final margin.

The Lady Lions advanced to the Cup finals with a 17-14 victory over Life University in the semifinals earlier on Sunday.  The Running Eagles had defeated Lindenwood in the previous two CRC championship matches, so the win was especially sweet, but not without some stress at the end.  The Lady Lions scored first when De Freitas carried the ball inside the five-meter line and Veteronnica Tafito finished for a 5-0 lead.  Life responded and converted to take a 7-5 advantage, but Lindenwood made it 10-7 on a Barlow try and that score held up to halftime.

De Freitas expanded the margin early in the second half, but the Running Eagles pulled to within three points at 17-14 on a try and conversion with just under four minutes remaining.  The Lady Lions were poised to clinch the match deep in Life territory, but were denied with 25 seconds left.  Two penalties gave the Running Eagles a final drive and they had a breakaway down the sideline, but Meg Gold and Hawkins held up the ball carrier, but at first, it appeared that Life scored the game-winner, but both touch judges ruled that possession was lost forward before the player crossed the line, so victory was preserved for Lindenwood. 

The Lady Lions played the Cup quarterfinal on Saturday and shutout Virginia Tech 29-0 despite being tested early by some great Hokie phase play early.  McKenzie Hawkins accounted for 20 points on four tries, three of which came in the first half alone.  Barlow scored once and Pedraza booted two conversions.
Lindenwood swept through play in Pool B with three wins on Friday, all shutouts.  The Lady Lions defeated the University of Virginia 41-0, Boston University 34-0, and the University of Delaware 51-0.

AnnaKaren Pedraza was chosen as the finals MVP for the Championship match and Caring De Freitas was honored as a nominee of the Life of Significance award for her community work in the St. Louis area and at home in Venezuela. She is the second Lindenwood nominee for the award after Davon Thomas earned the accolade a few years ago. 

The CRC victory was the first for the Lady Lions in their fourth trip to the event after finishing second the previous three years.  Lindenwood already won the USA Rugby Collegiate 15's title and the USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens title earlier this season.  Combined with the 2017 Collegiate Sevens Championship, the program has now won four national titles.