January 25, 2025

Stanford Women's Rugby vs UC Davis
Steuber Rugby Stadium
Stanford, CA

Stanford 62 - UC Davis 0

The Cardinal hosted UC Davis in the first match of the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference for the 2025 season. The Cardinal roster featured ten Cardinal rookies, including Scrumhalf Vivian Studdert '29, prop Elisabeth Holm '25, and center Cara Feit '25 who earned starting roles. 

Following an Aggies penalty and kick to touch by the Cardinals, the Cardinal retained possession at the lineout to send Flanker Ana Palacios '27 on the first of her many linebreaks on the day. The future mechanical engineer played an active role on defense and attack getting involved constantly throughout the 80-minute match. Palacios' run put the Cardinal on front foot and two phases later Feit found the tryzone. Laura Bocek '25 slotted the conversion for the 7-0 lead.

In the 11th minute, lock Emma Troast '25 stole an Aggie lineout at the Aggie 22m. The senior from Florida secured possession to set the Stanford forwards up before getting it in the hands of the backs where Bocek found center Jacqui McLean '27 to fullback Ahmyah Hicks '26 to Feit who popped the ball off to winger Dominique Ruedaflores '26 for the finish.

The Cardinal capitalized on Davis errors setting up lineouts in the attacking 22m at the 17th and 27th minutes. The Cardinal maul set the backs up for go forward ball and back to back tries from winger Journey Washingtonhigh '25. The second of which was awarded as a penalty try as she dotted it down amidst a high tackle. Washingtonhigh was featured as Goff Rugby Report's Player of the Week last week for her game winning back to back tries in the Caly Poly match. 

As time wound down in the half, the Cardinal scrummed down center at the 50m. Under pressure, Studdert got the ball out to Bocek who found Feit pacing through a gap. Feit weaved through five defenders for the try. The Cardinals stood at a 32-0 lead at the break.

The second half saw the Cardinal heighten their defensive pressure and tidy up their work at the breakdown. The Cardinal were given second chance efforts at the hands of Davis penalties. In the 48th minute, Captain Leila Wang Gaouette '26 tapped the ball 10 meters out and barreled through the Aggies to 5 meters out. Subsequent carries were seen by Walnut Creek native Catherine Armstrong '27, Georgia Scarr '26 from London, and ultimately sophomore lock from New York, Madisyn Cunninigham '27 who was in for the try.  Quick ruck clearance by Club President Vanessa Onuoha '25, Palacios, Holms, and Troast played critical roles on multiple occasions throughout the match.    

In the 55th minute, a strong carry by Scarr and trusty clearout by Palacios, set the stage for a wide ball from Studdert out to the backs and Washingtonhigh in for a hat trick. 

In the 70th minute, reserve prop Hope Adhanom-Shipman '25 in her first match of the year, barged through the Aggie defense at the line for the try. The Earth Science major from Peoria, Illinios is in her first season with the Cardinal and while one would not guess, is new to the sport.

In the 78th minute, a thumping tackle by Bocek earned the Cardinal a center scrum. Reserve scrumhalf Elizabeth Doherty '27, moved the ball to the backline where Bocek found Emily Capstick '25. Capstick, a reserve center for the match and in her first league season with the Cardinal, found rookie Chisa Ogaki '28 just before the 50m. Ogaki danced through defenders pacing towards the tryline for the 50+ meter finish. This was a familiar sight to all who saw the Cardinals play in the 7s tournament in the Fall.

Seven additional rookies took the field for the Cardinal throughout the 2nd half and diligently pressured the Aggies as they held the Aggies scoreless to finish the match. Ten tries plus conversions by Bocek lead to a 62-0 finish by the Cardinal in their first league match of the season.

The Cardinal will host Sacramento State on Saturday February 1, 2025 at Steuber Rugby for a 11:00am kickoff welcoming the Hornets to the D1 Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference for the first time.

Follow @stanford_rugby to check out clips from the Try of the Week.

Tries:
Cara Feit (3)
Dominique Ruedaflores
Journey Washingtonhigh (3)
Madisyn Cunningham
Hope Adhanom-Shipman
Chisa Ogaki

Conversions: 
Laura Bocek (5)
 

Stanford Women's Rugby v UC Davis

1. Vanessa Onuoha
2. Catherine Armstrong
3. Elisabeth Holm
4. Madisyn Cunningham
5. Emma Troast
6. Leila Wang Gaouette (c)
7. Ana Palacios
8. Georgia Scarr
9. Vivian Studdert
10. Laura Bocek
11. Journey Washingtonhigh
12. Jacqui McLean
13. Cara Feit
14. Dominique Ruedaflores
15. Ahmyah Hicks
16. Nancy Bao
17. Caia Costello
18. Hope Adhanom-Shipman
19. Phoeben Worku
20. Lauren Stoffel
21. Chisa Ogaki
22. Elizabeth Doherty
23. Emily Capstick