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Life Women Take the Double

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Life Women Take the Double

Life University pulled off a USA Rugby/CRC double, as the Running Eagles defeated Lindenwood 19-10 in the final at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.

Life scored early with some good ball movement setting up Christina Swift, who ripped the ball out of a ruck and galloped in for the first try.

Lindenwood came back, turning the ball over in the ruck and setting free Fullerton product Hannah Gauthreaux, who raced 80 meters. That made it 5-5. The two teams bashed into each other, looking for a break, and then right before halftime Madison Ohmann picked up a dropped ball and fed Life star Nicole Strasko who finished it off for a 12-5 lead at the break.

Lindenwood would not be shaken. Life held on but were pushed into their 22 and then from a penalty close in McKenzie Hawkins tapped quickly and went over. However, Gauthreaux  attempted her conversion too close to the posts, and hit the crossbar, meaning Life was ahead by two points. That would provide important.

Up 12-10, Life had 100 seconds - an age - to run out the game. The Running Eagles decided instead to press their advantage and worked it up the sideline. Smart recycling allowed Kimberly Semiglia to break through the middle. She was about to be hit and sent a perfect pass for Strasko, and the Sorensen Award nominee did the rest. Ohmann converted the try, and that meant Life led 19-10 with one more play to go. Lindenwood couldn't come back, and Life won 19-10.

Penn State, which lost 14-5 to Lindenwood in the semis, defeated Navy 27-5 to repeat the top three from the USA Rugby Women's College 7s Championships last week. 

In the consolation bracket, called the Challenge Bracket, Notre Dame defeated Kutztown 17-14 to win what is essentially the Bowl. NSCRO Elite took 5th, which is the Plate.

Final placement and scores:

Cup Winners. Life

Runners-up. Lindenwood

3rd: Penn State

4th: Navy

5th (Plate): NSCRO Elite

6th: Michigan

7th: Ohio State

8th: Princeton

9th (Bowl): Notre Dame

10th: Kutztown

11th: Bloomsburg

12th: Boston University