(Darrell Garner photo)
|
It was a repeat of past championship deciders between these two teams with no room for the feint hearted.
Both teams were evenly matched through the first quarter, and it wasn’t until the 26th minute that Stanford’s fleet footed Jessica Watkins finally cracked the Penn State defense to score the first try of the game.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Cardinal scored again when scrumhalf Jossy Tseng finished off a lineout win from a couple of meters out for a 10-0 scoreline and that’s how the teams went to the main break.
The Nittany Lions struck first in the second frame when flanker Alison Worman dotted down out wide following a series of forays into SU’s half.
The match continued as recent contests between these two championship sides have gone with first one team on the attack and then the other replying in kind.
As time was ticking down, PSU mounted several more raids into Stanford’s half and finally, with around six minutes remaining in regulation, Penn State punched in a try in the far corner after a quick tap to even things up at 10-10.
As hearts raced and tension increased, the game came down to a final play on the stroke of fulltime.
Stanford was on the offensive inside PSU’s quarter and the ball was spun out wide left where fullback Watkins latched on to the pass and weaved her magic as she cut through the defense to dot down the title-winning try.
Earlier in the day, Shippensburg beat the University of Minnesota-Duluth 47-0 to win the women's DII championship.
|
ARN’s coverage of the college playoffs is proudly presented by Down Under Rugby. Take your game to the next level by experiencing rugby in Australia.