Does anyone like to finish 2nd? Certainly it's no fun, but the Sacramento Amazons have plenty to be proud of.

The big, powerful Amazons team did indeed lose to Fallbrook in the NIT final, but they weren't blown out (most Fallbrook opponents were), and they won an imposing Northern California league.

"I expected our team to improve on our 5th place finish in the 2013 NIT," said Head Coach Sefesi Green. "The girls fought hard all season and stayed undefeated through a tough NorCal season. NorCal as whole has been improving over the past five years. Along with the All Star program, we have been able to raise the level of play throughout Northern California. The Youth Rugby movement is booming here and feeding us experienced ruggers."

Green said that experience means his team has strong leaders, and the improving teams in Northern California (such as Pleasanton), they are nly going to get better.

"We felt we played well throughout the season," said Green. "We had good depth. Our backline coach Dave Koloa Tausinga, who is a former U19 Eagle and a longtime area club player, had our backs playing some really dynamic rugby. I liked the look of the team and had expectations of winning it all this year."

Leading the way were excellent captains Suliana Tausinga (No.8 and Dave Tausinga's daughter) and Telesia Tuifua (fullback), while Briana Paleso'o, Anazhay Vaefaga, Maribel Rodriguez, and Odalys Sosa are all  outgoing seniors who made sure Sacramento's forward pack was the most physical on the field. Ana Polaulu, Jaida Kafovalu, Melelea Tausinga (another of Dave Tausing's daughters), Mary Jane Pasioles, and Alaska Castro are all returning to a team that does lose 11 seniors, and watch out because their leading try-scorer is just coming into her freshman year - Malieti "Eti" Haungatau.