2020 Spring Preview - Women
The Penn State Women are looking forward to an exciting Spring season. The team is eager to showcase the growth and experience gained through the Fall season while representing the program at the USARugby D1 Elite National semifinals in April and the USARugby 7s championships in May.
The team has a competitive match schedule leading up to their playoff run that includes a mix of college, women, and all star teams. They kicked off the season February 15th and 16th with a two-day, round robin format against Life University, Capitol Selects, and USA South in Washington, D.C..
Next up for the team is a spring break tour to the UK, with matches against Cambridge and Exeter with time spent visiting Bath. The team returns the U.S to play Navy and the Philadelphia Women to round out the Spring match schedule and prepare for their playoff runs.
In April, the USARugby National semifinals will take place at St. Mary’s University in Moraga, California in conjunction with the men’s D1A quarterfinals. The USARugby National Championships will follow two weeks later at Obetz Fortress in Obetz, Ohio (paired with the men’s D1A national Semifinals). All playoff games will be streamed on Eleven Sports Network (website: ftfnext.com).
Following the completion of the 15s season, the team will transition into 7s with a home tournament on May 2nd, followed by Life 7s on the 9th. They will finish up the year with the USARugby 7s championships in Mathews, NC.
Individually, Kayla Canett ‘21 is still working hard as a contracted 7s player and has been selected for several international series stops through the last year. We are always excited to watch her represent on the world stage and wish her all the best as she continues to push for selection in the Summer Olympics.
Also this spring, players Natalie Bjorklund (Sophomore back 3), Camile White (Freshmen wing) and Laura LaVigne (Sophomore prop) were invited and attended the USA U20s tryouts in February.
Meanwhile, back in State College, the team continues to support and participate in THON and work with their THON child Logan. This year, Mia Lancelotti (junior backrow) and Lacey Walker (sophomore hooker) will be dancing in this year’s 46hr dance marathon.
As on-field success results in both programs participating in playoff competition, the costs of participation, especially travel, presents an additional burden on the teams’ annual budgets. During the very successful Family, Friends and Alumni Reunion this past fall, the “Level the Playing Field” campaign was introduced, with a goal of establishing more consistent funding to meet the financial demands of maintaining annual national title contending programs. The ‘99 men's players and club parents stepped up in a big way, pledging respective $99,000 and $80,000 group donations. The spring is an excellent time to pledge your support to “level the playing field” as the teams work hard everyday to represent the Nittany Lions on the national level.
As always, the program is forever grateful for all those who give their time, dollars and resources to enriching the experience of the current players.
