“Euphoria”

That is how senior co-captain Emily Canvasser described the team’s feeling after beating San Jose State during the rugby 7s title match, 19-14, as time expired. 

After coming up just one match short in the last Spring 7s tournament, the Mavericks went on a 4-1 playoff run and became the third university program to win a national title, joining cycling and beach volleyball. 

“Last year we walked off in tears, and this year it was nothing but smiles.To be able to accomplish the goal that we spent 365+ days working for was an unreal feeling. [I am] still living in the bliss of it a couple days later,” Canvasser said. 

The Mavericks posted their best ever regular season finish at 14-1 and were the arguable favorites to win it all going into the national tournament in Dallas, Texas on May 13 and 14. 

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) won their first match of the tournament in blowout fashion versus Fairfield University, winning 27-0. Junior co-captain Ryleigh Blatnik led the way with four trys while freshman Ellen Rickerd tacked on another. 

This was nothing new for the Mavericks, as Blatnik led the team in trys and conversions the whole season. Blatnik, however, credited her teammates for putting her in good positions to score.

“One person doesn’t define the team’s success. I might have been the one touching the ball down, but that does not begin to describe the hard work that went into getting the try. Every try this season was a team effort. This team was great at adapting. It didn’t matter who was on the field at any given time; we got the results we wanted,” Blatnik said. 

CMU then took their next game against Yale University, 19-10. Blatnik again scorched her way to early scores and a conversion to go up 12-0, before Yale started to claw back. Yale outscored the Mavericks 10-7 from this point onward, but that was too little, too late. The Mavericks defense was able to clinch the game and held Yale scoreless in the second half until around five minutes remaining. 

“We definitely had to play a lot more defense than we have had to all year. We had to grind out a few matches and that required full team buy-in and giving everything we had in the tank. The competition was quality,” head coach Mackenzie Lewis said. 

To end the first day of competition, the Mavericks played powerhouse San Jose State University. Canvasser, playing through a doubly sprained ankle, blisters, and two stripped toe nails, put the first points up on the board just 30 seconds into the match. However, that would be the only lead CMU would have. 

San Jose tied the match just before half, and no one would score for most of the second half. WIth just around a minute left, San Jose found a crease up in the middle and secured the win. The final score was 14-7. 

“There was no doubt [in ourselves]. Of course there was frustration, but we collected ourselves as a group, and we were able to use that to fuel our play on Sunday. We knew the mistakes we made and what we had to fix going forward. That loss heightened our sense of urgency which led to a big win versus a talented Cal Poly team,” Canvasser said. 

The next day started with a defensive slug match against first-seeded Cal Poly. The teams would trade scores early, but a Blatnik conversion would be the determining factor in the 7-5 win. The rest of the match was all defense. 

“We haven’t had a look at California teams in several years, and they are talented. We had to change our strategy a bit and that’s why the scores were a lot closer than what we were putting up in the regular season. Our team will score, defense wins championships,” Lewis said. 

That win took the Mavericks to the championship, where they would re-match versus San Jose. This game was again played with intense defense and neither team scored until junior Sarah Penick touched the ball down with only 30 seconds left in the first half. CMU led 7-0 going into the third quarter. 

Neither team broke the score until a dangerous tackle call was made against CMU, making them shorthanded with just six players. Cal Poly quickly capitalized to even the score 7-7. 

The Mavericks fought tooth and nail down a player, but were getting gassed by the end. Cal Poly scored what many though would be the go-ahead try with five minutes remaining, 14-7. CMU made a timely substitution, however, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish. 

With some fresh legs, freshman Teja Smith found a big breakthrough in the San Jose defense and scored a try with just 30 seconds left. Blatnik again showed her clutch conversions prowess, tying the game right before time expired. 

A rugby match does not end after the clock hits 0:00, only after the ball is called “dead”. This gave the teams one last chance to end it in regulation. Still short-handed, CMU worked as a full team to move the ball one direction while Smith and Blatnik patienty held their ground on the near side of the pitch. As Smith drew in two defenders, that opened Blatnik up out wide for the go-ahead try to win the national title. 

CMU made rugby history with the win, as this year was only the team’s second Spring 7 season. 

“This team is special, because they believe. From day one, they bought into the goal of a team National Championship. They came in with an attitude of ‘we control our own destiny and we were the only ones that would beat us. We made it close but we fought hard and gave every ounce of heart and hustle to make it happen. They really are family. They cover each other when we come up short, and as unit, we are successful. Every player has a role and helped create the championship team we have,“ Lewis said. 

Women’s rugby will be graduating four seniors including Canvasser, but still started three freshmen in the finals and have a strong junior class leading the way next year as well. The team looks to carry the same success into next year’s Fall 15s and Spring 7s seasons.