For Immediate Release

August 29, 2007

BLAINE, Minn. -- The Women’s National Team wrapped up the final match of the inaugural Can-Am Tournament tonight, taking away valuable skill-building lessons from a 45-7 loss to Canada at the National Sports Center fields.

Canada scored early with a try by Megan Mutrie and led going into the break 0-20. In the second half, Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore) put the US Women on the board with a try following an impressive run by Jamie Burke (Berkeley All-Blues).

Maura Weikman (New York) converted for the extra points for the USA Women, bringing the score to 7-30 in minute 56. However, Canada responded with three more tries on the evening to defeat the USA 45-7.

In game one of the tournament on Monday, August 27, the Women’s squad fell to the Canada Women, being held to one try for a final score of 18-5. Vanesha McGee (New York) put the USA on the board in the twenty-fifth minute of the second half.

The Can-Am  Tournament is a developmental event for the Women’s National Team intended to give players a chance to undergo evaluation by USA  Rugby coaches for future camps and National Team opportunities. The player pool included a handful of returning players from the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup, but was largely comprised of young athletes new to international competition.

Women’s National Team Head Coach Kathy Flores split the pool of selected athletes into two squads of equal skill level to thoroughly evaluate each player’s ability to perform on a more demanding stage of play and assess areas for improvement.

"The object of this developmental series was to learn what we could about these players when they step up to a higher level of pace and pressure,” Flores said.  “While some players distinguished themselves,  we know we still have plenty of work to do."

The Can-Am competition is also the first step toward the creation of an event similar to the Men’s North America 4 Rugby Tournament between four squads from the U.S. and Canada. 

For more information about the Women’s National Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/Womens_Eagles or contact the Women’s National Team Administrator, Yvonne Parkhurst at yparkhurst@usarugby.org.

RESULTS FROM THE 2007 CAN-AM TOURNAMENT:

MATCH 1 – August 27
USA WOMEN VS. CANADA
1. Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore), 2. Lisa Butts  3. Heather Jennings (Seattle), 4. Jamie Lange (Olde Girls of Glendale), 5. Stacy Baker (Philadelphia), 6. Allyson Hemstreet (Berkeley All-Blues), 7. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries), 8. Liz Dilley (Washington), 9. Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries), 10. Megan Crapster-Pregont (Cornell), 11. Sheara Williamson (Philadelphia), 12. Mel Kanuk (Maryland Stingers), 13. San Juanita Moreno (Oregon Sports Union), 14. Vanesha McGee (New York), 15. Sara Leary (Cleveland), 16. Mari Wallace (Berkeley All-Blues), 17. Jamie Burke (Berkeley All-Blues), 18. Jenny Menke (Minnesota Valkyries), 19. Mel Denham (Beantown), 20. Wendy Young (Austin Valkyries), 21. Jossy Tseng (Stanford Univ.), 22. Ashley Kmeicek.

USA 5
Tries: Vanesha McGee - 2^nd half, minute 25

CANADA 18

MATCH 2 – August 29
USA VS. CANADA
1. Jamie Burke (Berkeley All-Blues), 2. Mari Wallace (Berkeley All-Blues), 3. Libby Berg (Minnesota Valkyries), 4. Jenny Menke (Maryland Exiles), 5. Carrie DuBray (New York), 6. Kitt Wagner (Beantown), 7. Stacy Bennett (Beantown), 8. Liz Dilley (Washington), 9. Rose Whitmore (Berkeley All-Blues), 10. Jossy Tseng (Stanford Univ.), 11. Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues), 12. Elise Myer (Northern Virginia), 13. Lynelle Kugler (Olde Girls of Glendale), 14. Maura Weikman (New York), 15. Ashley Kmiecek, 16. Lisa Butts, 17. Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore), 18. Mel Denham (Beantown), 19. Kristin Zdanczewicz (Minnesota Valkyries), 20. Wendy Young (Austin Valkyries), 21. Meg Crapster-Pregont (Cornell), 22. Sara Leary (Cleveland).

USA 7

Tries: Farrah Douglas

Conversions: Maura Weikman

CANADA 45
Tries: Megan Mutrie, Julianne Zetsman, Ashley Patzer 2, Gillian Florence, Heather McDonald, Maria Gallo
Conversions: Anna Schnell 2
Penalty Kicks: Anna Schnell 2