February 7, 2026

Steuber Rugby Stadium
Stanford, CA

Stanford 29 – Cal Poly 31

Stanford Women's Rugby hosted Cal Poly at Steuber Rugby Stadium. The Mustangs are in their first season in the Division I Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference after moving up as the defending Division II champions. Both teams were prepared for what they knew would be a tireless 80-minute battle.

The Cardinal were first to score in the 5th minute off a mishandled lineout that was tidied up by prop Eva Liberman '27, securing Cardinal possession just five meters from the Mustang try line. From there, the Cardinal forwards sprang into action, with Kirsten Lees '27 ultimately diving through for the score. Lees returned to the pitch after an absence that included participation in a recent USA Rugby Pathway U20s XV camp.

The next 17 minutes remained scoreless as possession shifted back and forth. Line breaks were stunted by both defenses, and both teams fought to exit their 22-meter zones to relieve pressure. In the 22nd minute, the Mustangs returned a kick from fullback Cara Feit '26 and maintained possession through five subsequent phases before a missed tackle led to a line break and offload for the score. The converted try gave the Mustangs a 7–5 lead.

In the 35th minute, the Mustangs quick-tapped from a Cardinal penalty at the ruck, and their No. 9 scored a 40-meter try to extend the lead to 12–5. The Cardinal answered before halftime after a 12-phase possession found second row and club president Zoe Colloredo-Mansfeld '26 crossing for the try. Feit converted to bring the score to 12–12 at the half.

The Cardinal looked to build momentum in the second half. In the 43rd minute, flanker Sydney Davis '26 connected with Lees on a well-executed lineout, igniting a maul that drove into the try zone. The Mustangs answered in the 48th minute, charging down an exit kick for a try to once again level the match at 17–17.

The Cardinal soon found themselves with familiar field position from a five-meter lineout. The Davis-to-Lees connection resulted in Davis reclaiming the ball and stretching over the try line to give Stanford a 22–17 lead. The Cardinal followed with another try in the 63rd minute when Lees dotted the ball down after an impressive 13-phase possession. Feit converted to extend the lead to 29–17 with 16 minutes remaining.

The ensuing minutes featured intense exchanges of possession, with both teams breaking the line only to be brought down. With nine minutes remaining, a Cal Poly scrum inside the Cardinal 22 led to a strong effort from the Mustang backline, finding No. 13 Liz Goethals in for the try. The conversion narrowed the deficit to 29–24 with seven minutes remaining.

The Mustangs worked out of their own half in the final minutes, and a line break on the edge led to a series of offloads that again found Goethals for the try, tying the match at 29–29 with five minutes remaining. The conversion from the 15-meter channel proved decisive as Cal Poly took the lead and secured the 31–29 win. The Cardinal enter the conference break with a 2-1 record.

The hard-fought battle was capped by a second XV match that showcased the depth of both squads and the continued progress of the PMRC. A shout-out to Frankie Lewitton '29, who donned a Cardinal jersey for the first time in the second XV match.

The Cardinal will travel to Cal Poly on February 21 following the bye weekend for a friendly. Please check the updated match schedules for both our men's and women's teams on the website. Follow us on Instagram @stanford_rugby and on YouTube @StanfordClubSport.

We hope to welcome family and alumni back to the Farm for Family Weekend on February 21, when both teams will take on Fresno State.

Tries:
Kirsten Lees (2)
Zoe Colloredo-Mansfeld
Sydney Davis
Ah'Myah Hicks

Conversions:
Cara Feit (2)

Stanford Women's Rugby vs. Cal Poly – Matchday Squad

1. Eva Liberman

2. Phoeben Worku

3. Elizabeth Holm

4. Zoe Colloredo-Mansfeld

5. Paige Fitzpatrick

6. Leila Wang Gaouette

7. Sydney Davis

8. Kirsten Lees

9. Vivian Studdert

10. Chisa Ogaki

11. Journey Washingtonhigh

12. Jacqui McLean

13. Anabella Hernandez

14. Ah'Myah Hicks

15. Cara Feit

16. Alice Rowe

17. Audrey Kaplan

18. Jana Gomri

19. Hope Adhanom-Shipman

20. Emma Lewis

21. Isabelle McNabb

22. Josie Davidson

23. Karina Byzek