February 22, 2025

Stanford Women's Rugby vs Cal Women's Rugby
Steuber Rugby Stadium
Stanford, CA

Stanford 36 - Cal 21

The Cardinal hosted Cal to the Farm for the much anticipated Family Weekend and Senior recognition game. The teams kicked off on a sunny February day as friends and family from both programs filled the stadium for the anticipated battle.

The match held true the intensity expected from the rivals. It was a physical battle, rich in an exchange of first half penalties as the teams took risks in attempts to gain and retain possession. The first fifteen minutes was scoreless as the Cardinal looked to convert on visits to the Cal 22 meters. In the 12', a 50:22 by Flyhalf Laura Bocek '25 would put the Cardinal in prime scoring position. Cal's defensive efforts held the Cardinal out, including a strip by Cal's #12 to turnover possession. Cal relieved pressure with a kick to touch and retained the throw in due to a Cardinal penalty. The Cardinal were not deterred as #7 Sydney Davis '25 retrieved an overthrown Cal lineout and gained 30 meters before being brought down just shy of the line. The Cardinal forwards went to work to retain possession over several phases and in the 18' the ball found its way to Winger Journey Washingtonhigh '25 in the corner. Washingtonhigh's mother, Yolanda, could be heard throughout the stadium as she proudly watched on and led the cheering section efforts. 

The Cardinal would score just before the half with fourteen on the pitch after a yellow card to Bocek. A 30 meter line break by center Cara Feit '25 put the Cardinal within 10 meters from the tryline. Rookie Hope Adhanom-Shipman '25 took it from there as she broke four tackles and dotted it down between the sticks. Feit would convert the try. The Cardinal went to the break up 12-0.

Soon after halftime, a well executed lineout by the Cardinal forwards just 5 meters from the Cal tryline, led to a try by Zoe Colleredo-Mansfeld '26 in the 44' under the posts. Bocek converted to bring the score to nineteen unanswered points. The Cardinal braced for a second half surge by the Golden Bears. Cal answered back in the 53' and the converted try brought the score to 19-7.

In the 60', second year Kirsten Lees stole a Cal lineout. Fellow classmate, Madisyn Cunningham offloaded to Lees coming around the corner who would break the line and condense the Cal defense. From there, senior scrumhalf Emma Cruz, found Bocek, who sent a skip pass out to Davis for a try in the 62th minute. Again, Cal would rebuttal with a converted try to bring the score to 24-14.

In the 70', the Cardinal forwards yet again went to work off a scrum in the Cal 22 meters. After steady advancement down the left side off the pitch, the Cardinal pack rewarded the backs with a 5 vs 3 and Bocek delivered the ball to Feit who, with great delight, won the footrace to the line to widen the lead to 29-14.

The Cardinal scored one final try after Lees stripped the ball from Cal and gained 30 meters before offloading to Davis in space. Davis found Bocek who found flyer Washingtonhigh to finish the effort in her second try of the day. Feit converted the try.

Cal scored again in the 75' after the #2 danced through the line for the try. Stanford women's rugby retained the axe with a final score of 36-21. Congratulations to all the Seniors recognized at today's match: Vanessa Onuoha, Hope Adhanom-Shipman, Emily Capstick, Emma Troast, Emma Cruz, Sydney Davis, Laura Bocek, Journey Washingtonhigh, Jana Gomri, Elisabeth Holm, Caia Costello, Natalia Chen, and Emma Klemperer.

Stanford Women's Rugby will travel to Fresno State next weekend. Th\e men will remain at home to host the University of San Diego.

Follow @stanford_rugby on instagram to check out the Try of the Week and @stanfordclubsports on YouTube for recordings of the home matches.

Tries:
Journey Washingtonhigh (2)
Hope Adhanom-Shipman
Zoe Colleredo-Mansfeld
Sydney Davis
Cara Feit

Conversions:
Laura Bocek
Cara Feit (2)

Stanford Women's Rugby v Cal Women's Rugby

1. Vanessa Onuoha
2. Georgia Scarr
3. Hope Adhanom-Shipman
4. Zoe Colleredo-Mansfeld
5. Emma Troast
6. Leila Wang Gaouette (c)
7. Sydney Davis
8. Kirsten Lees
9. Emma Cruz
10. Laura Bocek
11. Journey Washingtonhigh
12. Emily Capstick
13. Cara Feit
14. Chisa Ogaki
15. Ahmyah Hicks
16. Elisabeth Holm
17. Eva Lieberman
18. Madisyn Cunningham
19. Caia Costello
20. Paige Fitzpatrick
21. Ana Palacios
22. Vivian Studdert
23. Isabelle McNabb