It was an exciting first day at the Girls High School National Invitational Championship, and for the fifth time in the previous six years, it’s two West Coast teams that are still undefeated in DI. Southern California’s Fallbrook will look for title number five against Washington’s Kent in tomorrow’s championship match (10:30 a.m. ET).

The seeding was based on season results, and a couple of early-season tournament losses (to Danville and Pleasanton) forced Fallbrook from its typical #1 seed to #3. But then the whistle blew against St. Joseph’s and the field quickly realized that the Warriors were in top shape. Fallbrook posted a 41-0 win over the Ohio state champ, and the team did it without All American and Junior Olympian Richelle Stephens. Instead, Kayla Canett slotted in at flyhalf and performed wonderfully. She proved to be very slippery and set up her teammates for scores.

California’s Danville was intimidatingly good as well, running up a 62-5 quarterfinal win over Morris. The Lady Oaks dominated the set pieces, and Morris just couldn’t hold onto possession. That deficit would hurt the New Jersey side in its consolation semifinal against St. Joe’s, too.

Danville began its semifinal against Fallbrook auspiciously. The Warriors tried to run the ball out of its end, but it was jarred loose, and a pouncing defense dotted down for a quick try. The Lady Oaks were pumped up, but Fallbrook remained poised and the rest of the half was played primarily in Danville’s end. The NorCal side played a hard-rushing defense, but discipline was an issue. The referee repeatedly warned the team about off-sides and being back-10, but the adjustments were not being made. A yellow card was awarded, and Fallbrook took advantage to the tune of 14 first-half points.

One of those tries was particularly damaging, as the Lady Oaks were building toward promising territory. But then a turnover put Fallbrook center Miriam Friebe into space, and she outran a diligent Leti Hingano for a long try.

The second half opened up, as Danville began to fall off tackles and stifled some good-charging forward phases with penalties. Shifty and always in great support, All American fullback Lilly Durbin dotted down three tries and a conversion to lead her team to a 38-5 win and return berth to the final.

Kent’s return to the final was a tough one. As the #4 seed, the Crusaders lined up against #5 Pleasanton, who proved to be the team’s equal. So equal that regulation ended in a 12-all tie. The first tiebreaker is goal kicks: Each team provides three players for a shot at goal, and the best of three wins the game. Leah Ingold, Emily Prentice, and McKenna Strong were all successful, and the 13-12 win went to Kent.

Divine Savior played a tough West End to a 22-5 win in the quarterfinals, and both the Wisconsin team and Kent showed a little wear and tear in their semifinal match. Continuity was tough to come by, as unforced errors broke up play. But Kent dominated the scrums for some extra possession and were successful in shutting down the Dashers’ biggest attacking threats. Ingold put the team up early with a penalty, and that 3-0 lead held until halftime. Better ball movement saw two more tries – one from Paige Wyatt – and Ingold conversion for the 15-0 win. In what is becoming the championship’s longest record, DSHA must aspire to its sixth-straight third place finish over Danville tomorrow.

In the consolation semifinals, Midwest runner-up St. Joseph’s blanked Morris 22-0, while NorCal’s Pleasanton better West End 17-0 for trips to the 5^th place match tomorrow. West End and Morris have a friendly rivalry and often play each other to very close margins, so Sunday should be equally as exciting.

Saturday
DI Quarterfinals
Divine Savior Holy Angels (1) 22-5 West End (8)
Danville (2) 62-5 Morris (7)
Fallbrook (3) 41-0 St. Joseph’s (6)
Kent (4) 13-12 Pleasanton (5) (on kicks)

Semifinals
Kent 15-0 Divine Savior Holy Angels
Fallbrook 38-5 Danville

Consolation Semifinals
St. Joseph’s 22-0 Morris
Pleasanton 17-0 West End

Sunday
7^th Place: Morris – West End
5^th Place: Pleasanton – St. Joseph’s
3^rd: Divine Savior – Danville
10:30 a.m. Championship: Fallbrook – Kent