Let's go back, I feel the need to end on that happy note so we'll start from where we ended last post. So this week was my last week of classes. Like ever. Kinda weird to think about. I had an infinitely harder time focusing because we left for California on Thursday for regional playoffs. It was a miracle I accomplished anything this week. But accomplish I did! All I have now standing between me and rugby bliss is 3 finals (1 is a take home so it really shouldn't even count). Then I graduate on Friday. Then I get to play in Utah until rugby is over. YAY!
Now onto the exciting stuff. Thursday we drove to California for the Pacific Coast tournament. We went in with the #3 seed and would be facing UC Davis in the first round. I've been looking forward to this trip pretty much all semester. We made great time on the drive and got to Cali with no problems (kind of a big deal for us, we almost always have something happen). Friday we got to go to the Oakland temple in the morning since our game wasn't until like 5 and do baptisms. Very cool experience when we get to do that with the team. So game time comes around and was not quite what we expected. UC Davis came out hard and kind of took us off guard. We played maybe the worst game of our season, but came out on top 45-22. It was a little bit of a shocker for us since we hadn't had a game like that yet, but we knew we couldn't do it again. Nevertheless, the win gave us a guaranteed spot in the sweet 16 and we were happy about that. Saturday we would be facing up Stanford, an opponent we have never beat. The winner would take the top seed from the Pac Coast and the #2 seed overall in the tournament. The loser would have the Pac Coast #2 seed, the #8 seed overall, and would be in Penn State's bracket. This game was everything for us. Saturday we got to relax all morning, do homework, take some time to ourselves, it was nice. We had a devotional before we left and then it was game time. We got to see UC Davis beat Chico St. for the #3 seed and that made me happy since I've got a friend on their team and I really wanted them to make playoffs. We hit warm-up focused and ready. The funny thing was we were down two starters for this game. Keilani hurt her knee 2 weeks ago and Sam sprained her AC joint in Friday's game. But somehow it didn't feel like we were missing anyone. Everyone was clicking, we were ready for this game. In 4 years, we had never beat Stanford. This was our time. I can't really even describe how I felt before the game, it was a feeling of calm, and preparedness. I don't know how to say it, but I knew this was our game. Game starts, 2 1/2 minutes in and we score. This was Cougar Rugby. This was how we played. We played as one on that field, we played like we've never played before. Every player complimented one another, we knew where we needed to be, to made good decisions. It was beautiful. Not long after our first score, Kristi hit a beautiful gap and, as is usual for her, would not go down. 12-0 for the Cougars. It turned into a defensive battle from here on out, each team giving everything. Big hits on both sides, both teams getting close while the defense held strong. Just before half we got an overload on the outside and sent Bex running up the side. Halftime score 19-0. We knew this wasn't the end. Almost every game we've played against Stanford has seen us leading at halftime. This was our game for the taking if we wanted it. While Stanford was focused so much on our backs, our forwards were playing an incredible game. We contested well, stole lineouts and scrums, gave our backs good balls. It was the kind of game we needed. Second half got going and it was another defensive battle. Stanford earned a hard earned try to put the score at 19-7. We knew this was the time we needed to make our statement. Hard play continued, every possession was a fight. With some beautiful ball movement, we got the ball into good position. We were close to the line with a lot of moment. 3 meters out and we had a solid ruck. It was the forwards turn to say how we played. It was my turn to make a statement. I took the ball, hit bodies, rolled and saw the line. What a blessing that I have long arms. I stretched and made sure that ball made it in. The utter joy of hearing that whistle signaling I had scored was unlike anything. Everyone was yelling and jumping, I think we knew this was now our game to win or lose. 20 minutes left and it was 24-7. Now was the time to play the best defense we could. And defend we did. The ball barely stayed in our half, we weren't going to give them anything. The clock kept running and Stanford fought hard, but as time got shorter our hopes got higher. The clock was out and Bex had a ball rolling her way, one kick out of bounds and that was the game. The final whistle blew. We'd finally done it. I remember running to the sideline and being so full of relief, it was finally our time to show who we are. We hugged and cheered and I dropped to my knees, I had waited for this for so long. As we started lining up to shake hands, Curly came up to me and told me that "it was about damn time." For so long had been so close. We shook their hands, thanked the ref and headed to the sidelines to hear from Tom. I was so overcome with emotion, so full of happiness that is was finally happening. Tom was so proud, so happy that we had learned and adjusted as necessary. It was an incredible feeling. We thanked our fans, got pictures, celebrated. Sweet 16's here we come. These are the moments I'll never forget.
