USA U20 WNT beat Canada 15-5

Hard to explain what this result meant to the team. Losing twice to Canada last year by a total of four points was such a disappointment after the solid win against Canada in the 2009 Nations Cup. We made a lot of mistakes but still came way with a win that earns us a second consecutive trip to the final of the U20 Nations Cup.

Here is the game report from USA Rugby.

Canada vs. USA
The USA was able to defeat Canada 15-5 and earn a spot in the final on Saturday July 23. The victory was a big one for the U.S. team who is making big strides in reaching the U20 Women’s Nations Cup Final.
The first half of play was characterized by solid defensive play from both teams. It wasn’t until the 30th minute when Amelia Bizer was able to make a penalty kick to give the U.S. a 3-0 lead in a tight match.
The first score of the match didn’t necessarily open the floodgates, but it did provide a spark for Canada, who played the ball nicely to loose forward, Cindy Nelles in the 34th minute for a try. The failed conversion attempt made the score 5-3 in favor of Canada at half time.
The two teams match up very will against each other, proven in the minimal scoring throughout the second half as well.
Neither team was able to make gains significant enough to cross the try line until Amelia Bizer did so in the 62nd minute after great ball movement that set her up for the strong run and score. Bizer, who will be playing football on scholarship at the University of St. Mary’s, Leavenworth, Kansas in the fall, made the conversion to give the U.S. a one try cushion heading into the crucial final 15 minutes of play.
The young women from the U.S. showed strong poise in the waning minutes of the match when the inside center, Akalaini Baravilala, touched down for a try and sealed the U.S.’s fate.
The hard-fought match was a valuable learning experience for the U.S. team who is facing and England team that beat them 37-0 just a few days ago. If England is to be defeated, the U.S. must play extremely physical and good fundamental rugby while limiting mistakes that will be capitalized on by England.
That match will be webcast live on USA Rugby’s UStream channel on Saturday July 23 at 4 P.M. PDT.
USA - 15
Tries: Bizer, Baravilala
Conversions: Bizer
Penalty Kicks: Bizer

Canada - 5
Tries: Nelles

USA U20 WNT v Canada U20’s.

1. Dorothy Mittow Princeton
2. Jennifer Sandifer Navy
3. Monica Jackson Cougar Women’s Rugby
4. Kathryn Humphreys Central Washington
5. Grace Hovde U of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
6. Mackenzie Lewis Mesa State College
7. Amee Svatos Canby, OR
8. Kathryn Johnson U of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
9. Haley Anderson Summit, CO
10. Allyson Day Portland, ME
11. Jacie Vonada South Dakota State
12. Akalaini Baravilala Aliamanu Blues
13. Amelia Bizer Woodlands, TX
14. Ashley Okonta Notre Dame
15. Alexandra Brown Radcliffe

16. Alycia Washington U of Connecticut
17. Colleen Carey U of Colorado
18. Kimberly La Mons Fallbrook, CA
19. Chloe Harper U of North Georgia
20. Miranda Wakimoto Boston University
21. Kayla Vlachos Jupiter, FL
22. Joanne Fa'avesi Sacramento Amazons, CA