Tour News

1.29.06 - The Eagles finished the Europe Tour with a resounding win against England A, 21-8. Tries were provided from wings Laura Cabrera, Ellie Karvoski, and scrumhalf Lee Knight.
Coach Kathy Flores is pleased with the tour which offered, "no real surprises, but some great individual performances from Danielle Miller, Ellie Karvoski and Laura Cabrera. The England A match was a great game to end our tour on....they are a strong side that regularly plays against other National teams so the competition was heated." Look for a strong performance by the Eagles in this year's World Cup.
US Roster:
Position, Player
1 - Danielle Miller
2 - Mari Wallace
3 - Jamie Burke
4 - Chris Trucano
5 - Jen Crouse
6 - Kelly McMahon
7 - Laura McDonald
8 - Kate Cox
9 - Lee Knight
10 - Kristen Baja
11 - Pat Neder
12 - Hedwig Aerts
13 - Keenya Warner
14 - Ellie Karvoski
15 - Ashley English
16 - Meredith Ottens
17 - Erin Carter
18 - Susanna Barth
19 - Tina Nesberg
20 - Claudia Braymer
21 - Pam Kosanke
22 - Laura Cabrera

1.26.06 - LIMERICK, Ireland
Led by right wing Laura Cabrera's two tries, the USA Rugby Women's National Team improved to 2-0 on its United Kingdom/Ireland tour with a 23-5 win over the Irish at Thomond Park here Wednesday night. The Women Eagles have now extended their win streak to four straight since 2004.

Ireland opened the scoring on a Tania Rosser try in the 20th minute for the 5-0 lead. Eagles center Pam Kosanke scored her first of two penalty kicks on the night, which would be the start of a 23-0 U.S. run, to bring the Eagles within two, 5-3. Trailing 5-3 at halftime, the United States would own the second half of play, scoring 20 more unanswered points. Kosanke's second penalty kick would be the first of four Eagles scores in 10 minutes when she lifted the U.S. to its first, and inevitably final, lead of the night, 6-5. On fullback Heather Hale's lead, Cabrera scored her first of two tries to give the Eagles some breathing room, 11-5. An Ireland miscue off a scrum resulted in Patty Jervey's first score on the tour, building the U.S. lead to 16-5. Cabrera picked up a lucky bounce minutes later to put the Eagles up 21-5, and Kosanke's conversion was the match's final score. Kirsten Aerts earned her first cap in tonight's match and also had her first start, first alongside her sister Hedwig. The two sides will square up again later this year, as the they are also paired together at the Women's World Cup in Canada later this year.

Two matches into the tour, both Cabrera and Ellie Karvoski have 10 points each, making Cabrera one of the Women Eagle's top-10 all-time scorers with 30. Kosanke has eight points, followed by Jervey (5) who improves her dominance on the all-time points list with 153, and Heather Hale (3).

More info and photos on the Irish Rugby website.

FINAL: United States 23, Ireland 5 (Halftime, Ireland 5-3)

UNITED STATES 23
Tries: Cabrera (2), Jervey (1)
Conversions: Kosanke (1)
Penalty Kicks: Kosanke (2)

IRELAND 5
Tries: Rosser (1)

UNITED STATES: 1. Annie Collier; 2. Mari Wallace; 3. Kirsten Aerts (Danielle Miller @40); 4. Jen Joyce; 5. Jen Crouse; 6. Suzanna Barth (Kate Cox @50); 7. Laura McDonald; 8. Christina Nesburg; 9. Lee Knight; 10. Hedwig Aerts (Kristin Baja @50); 11. Tyshawn Henry (Meredith Ottens @50); 12. Pam Kosanke; 13. Patty Jervey; 14. Laura Cabrera; 15. Heather Hale.

IRELAND: Joanne O Sullivan (Amanda Greensmith @55); Nuala Ni Chaidhan; Lynne Cantwell; Patrique Kelly; Suzanne Fleming (Grace Davitt @60); SarahJane Belton; Tania Rosser (Louise Beamish @60); Fiona Coughlan; Jean Lonergan; Marie Barrett; Caroline Mahon (Sinead Ryan @55); Germaine Healy; Orla Brennan; Rachel Boyd; Joy Neville.

Scorers US:
Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore) - 2 penalties, 1 conversion
Patty Jervey (Atlanta) 1 try
Laura Cabrera (Berkeley) 2 tries

1.25.06 - The US will play Ireland tonight at Thomond Park. The US squad, announced earlier in the week, includes a pair of sisters that are playing together... a first for US Rugby in an International match. Hedwig Aerts is a veteran flyhalf with 13 caps to her credit and sister Kristen will be a first time cap playing at prop. Hedwig said, "I'm so psyched to be on the field with her for her first cap." The US has been progressing nicely at practices, according to coach Kathy Flores, "we are getting some quality practices and and enjoying Limerick's atmosphere and knowledge of rugby." The match kicks off at 7pm with the forecast for cloudy skies and a temperature just above freezing.

1.23.06 - The Eagles are readying for Wednesday's Ireland match with practices and films. The Irish team that will face the US on Wednesday night includes two new caps. It is the first time the US has played Ireland since a 1994 World Cup match which saw the US winning 76-0. The Eagles will face Ireland at the Women's World Cup later this year.
Irish coach Philip Doyle said that he was expecting a physical challenge from the US, "They have beaten Scotland already on this tour and the games I have seen them play have all been very tough and physical. We've had five training weekends together now in a row and this game for us is really about the performance."
Coach Kathy Flores released the US roster for the Ireland match this morning:
US Roster
Position, Player
1 - Annie Collier
2 - Mari Wallace
3 - Kirsten Aerts
4 - Jen Joyce
5 - Jen Crouse - Captain
6 - Suzanna Barth
7 - Laura McDonald
8 - Tina Nesberg
9 - Lee Knight
10 - Hedwig Aerts
11 - Tyshawn Henry
12 - Pam Kosanke
13 - Patty Jervey
14 - Laura Cabrera
15 - Heather Hale
Reserves:
16 - Danielle Miller
17 - Meridith Ottens
18 - Erin Carter
19 - Kate Cox
20 - Claudia Braymer
21 - Kristin Baja
22 - Ashley English

1.22.06 - Nearly a 1,000 fans were present as the Eagles defeated Scotland 13-6 on Saturday. In the first 2 minutes of the match, the Eagles were awarded a penalty which was converted by flyhalf Heather Hale for a 3-0 lead. Scotland captain Paula Chalmers missed a penalty kick 10 minutes later. The first try came at 23 minutes as a line-out ball came loose and wing Ellie Karvoski scooped it up, broke several tackles, and touched down in the corner to make it an 8-0 advantage. Three attempts at the line by prop Meredith Ottens, winger Karvoski and stand-off Hale were thwarted in a fine display of determined defence that kept the Scots' hopes of a second half comeback alive. 13 minutes into the second half, Karvoski touched down for her second try after a winding run from the halfway line. Chalmers hit a penalty kick in the 61st minute to bring Scotland back to 13-3. US center Keenya Warner was sin binned, allowing Chalmers to kick her second penalty. Despite late pressure from Scotland, the US held firm until the final whistle. Sunday saw the Eagles resting, recovering and relocating to Limerick, Ireland. The team will resume training on Monday morning and afternoon. The roster for the Ireland match, to be played on Wednesday, will be announced Monday night.
Other headlines and stories on the web
"Americans Find it Easy as Pie" - Sport.Scotsman.com.
USA Rugby Press Release.

1.21.06 - The Women Eagles are prepped and ready to go for the Scotland match. There was a jersey ceremony last nite and team meetings to get last minute plays ironed out before the jersey ceremony at 7:30. For one player, Jaime Burke, "the ceremony was emotional. There's nothing like walking up in front of your teammates and getting that USA jersey handed to you by your coach. Knowing what that represents for me as a player... it's a symbol both of playing for this team, representing my country, a tribute to all the people who supported me up to this point, all my hard work... there's no real way to do justice to it in words, but those who have been there and done it know what I am talking about." It's off to lunch and then the match!

1.18.06 - The Ireland Women have selected a squad of 26 players for their upcoming match against the US on January 25th. The squad will go on to play in the Six Nations Championship. Ireland last played the US at the 1994 Women's World Cup when the Americans won 76-0. Ireland came in fifth in last season's Six Nations, the best they have ever done. More from Planet Rugby.com

1.18.06 - The Women Eagles today announced their starting 15 and reserves for Saturday's international match against Scotland.
(Position, Player, Caps)
1 - Jaime Burke (3)
2 - Danielle Miller (3)
3 - Meredith Ottens (21)
4 - Chris Trucano (0)
5 - Jen Crouse (17)
6 - Kelly McMahon (3)
7 - Kristin Zandancewicz (0)
8 - Tina Nesberg (2)
9 - Claudia Braymer (0)
10 - Heather Hale (14)
11 - Pat Neder (3)
12 - Keenya Warner (2)
13 - Patty Jervey (33)
14 - Ellie Karvoski (5)
15 - Ashley English (9)

Reserves
16 - Mari Wallace (0)
17 - Jen Joyce (3)
18 - Phaidra Knight (15)
19 - Susanna Barth (2)
20 - Lee Knight (1)
21 - Hedwig Aerts (11)
22 - Pam Kosanke (1)

The match will kick off at 3:45pm in Borders Reivers, Netherdale Ground, Galashiels following a European Challenge Cup match between the Border Reivers and L'Aquila. The Eagles have enjoyed unexpectedly mild weather and good practices since their arrival in Scotland. The team is staying at the naval base, HMS Caledonia. Supporters will be able to watch both the European clash and the international with one ticket priced from £10 for adults and £4 for children. Reivers' business manager, John Thorburn said: "We are encouraging supporters to come along to Netherdale early to enjoy the atmosphere as the European and international stages come together in this exciting double header."

1.20.06 - Paula Chalmers leads a Scotland side to face the USA Saturday in Galashiels.
1 - Karen Findlay (Richmond)
2 - Iona Frickleton (Watsonians)
3 - Gillian McCord (Watsonians)
4 - Sarah Mee (Watsonians)
5 - Clare Muir (Richmond)
6 - Susie Brown (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
7 - Shona Watt (Supermarine)
8 - Donna Kennedy (Worcester)
9 - Paula Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers) CAPTAIN
10 - Mary Pat Tierney (Watsonians)
11 - Veronica Fitzpatrick (RHC)
12 - Rhona Shepard (Murrayfield Wanderers)
13 - Rimma Petlevannaya (Murrayfield Wanderers)
14 - Chris Ovenden (Richmond)
15 - Sara Mears (Watsonians)

Reserves
Victoria Wiseman (Richmond)
Lynne Reid (RHC)
Lisa O'Keefe (Richmond)
Beth Macleod (Murrayfield Wanderers)
Louise Dalgliesh (RHC)
Katie Davies (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
Lynsey Douglas (Murrayfield Wanderers)

1.18.06 - The Women Eagles are training in Scotland on the first leg of their Europe Tour. The first match of the tour, against Scotland, kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3:35pm in Borders Reivers, Netherdale Ground, Galashiels. The last match up between the US and Scotland was in 2004 with the US coming out on top 12-6. Saturday's match will be played after the European Challenge Cup match between the Border Reivers and L'Aquila.The Eagles will be practicing and acclimating to the weather until then.

1.17.06 - The Women Eagles had some last minute changes to the squad as Anne McClain had to withdraw due to work obligations and Jen Sinkler is still re-habilitating a knee injury. The entire squad and staff leave today for Scotland.

1.15.06 - US Coach Kathy Flores said "this tour is all about testing the squad under rough mental and physical conditions. The weather is expected to be brutally cold and wet this time of the year ensuring cold, muddy conditions on the practice field and during matches. The coaching staff is eager to see the squad perform in various combinations in international play. The european teams they are competing against are prepping for their Five Nations championships so they are nearing top form - a great time to get in our world cup preparations."