The Cleveland Rugby Coalition kicked off their Summer 2019 campaign in Rockford, IL at Forest City 7’s. This marked the first time the Coalition would compete in the Midwest Qualifier Bracket in the hopes of earning a trip to Club Nationals in August.

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After a stellar 2018 campaign that saw the Coalition go undefeated, this new challenge was highly anticipated. The Coalition drew a tough pool for their Qualifier debut, pitting them against Legacy Academy, last years champions, the Chicago Lions, and the newly revamped WPL Chicago North Shore 7’s side.

The Coalition opened the day playing Legacy Academy in the Qualifier Bracket, and picked up right where they left off downing Legacy 33-7. A punishing scoring attack saw 4 different players get on the board, including two tries from last season MVP Marcaya Bailous. Great individual effort from Kaela Thompson on the defensive side of the ball helped keep Legacy out of the try zone for much of the day, and Thompson was also a major contributor on offense scoring 16 points with two tries and three conversions, and accounting for almost half of the teams points on her own.

Kaela Thompson on the defensive side of the ball helped keep Legacy out of the try zone for much of the day, and Thompson was also a major contributor on offense scoring 16 points with two tries and three conversions, and accounting for almost half of the teams points on her own.

The second match of the day saw the Coalition take on last years Midwest Regional Champions the Chicago Lions. The Lions came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, putting pressure on the Coalition from the start. Utilizing team ball and passing wide, the Lions struck first going up by two tries in the first half. Cleveland would storm back in the second half, organizing their defense, and getting a pair of tries from finisher Mary Wunderle, whose spectacular breakaway capped off a fantastic performance for the Coalition president. The Coalition would ultimately fall to the Lions 17-29.

Cleveland would storm back in the second half, organizing their defense, and getting a pair of tries from finisher Mary Wunderle, whose spectacular breakaway capped off a fantastic performance for the Coalition president.

The last pool match of the day pitted the Coalition against the new look Chicago North Shore first side, Green. Recommitting to premier level sevens after a break to focus on their WPL 15’s side, North Shore pushed the pace right from the opening kickoff. Qualifier side MVP Danielle Walko-Suia pushed the pace offensively, and deftly handled the smothering pressure from the opposition scrum half. The smothering blitz defense of North Shore put the Coalition under pressure all game, and they would eventually fall to Northshore by a score of 0-29.

Qualifier side MVP Danielle Walko-Suia pushed the pace offensively, and deftly handled the smothering pressure from the opposition scrum half

Photos: Christine Cancian, Design: Mary Wunderle

Relegated to the bottom bracket the Coalition took out their frustration on Chicago North Shore’s second qualifier side, Gold in the first game of the bracket. A solid team performance saw 7 different players get on the board including two tries from newcomer Ilona Zaishliuk and one from MVP Walko-Siua. Contributions across the board on defense kept the score sheet clean for the first goose egg of the 2019 season and the Coalition would go on to win 55-0.

Playing for fifth place, the Coalition would close out their day the same way as they began it, on the pitch facing a tough Legacy side. Coming off the big win against North Shore Gold, the Coalition would carry that momentum over to the last game of the day for the Qualifiers, pushing the pace and spreading the field forcing Legacy to work hard defesively. Zaishliuk would put up a hat trick, scoring another three tries and ending her day with 34 points, best on the team. The Coalition would go on to win by a score of 50-7, ending their day on a high note.

Zaishliuk would put up a hat trick, scoring another three tries and ending her day with 34 points, best on the team.

Cleveland Rugby Coalition’s day wouldn’t be over yet, as the team entered another side in the open division, starting directly after qualifier play was done. CRC’s second side sported a younger look, and many of the players were making their senior side debut.

Opening the day against the Chicago Blaze CRC came out of the gate strong, scoring a quick try by Samantha Drum on the outside. CRC continued to exert their will on the game, and held off a strong push by the Blaze in the second half behind a magnificent performance by Open Side MVP Hannah Trommer who was strong on both sides of the ball. CRC would win the game 17-12 continuing their unbeaten streak in the Open division.

Opening the day against the Chicago Blaze CRC came out of the gate strong, scoring a quick try by Samantha Drum on the outside

Photo: Christine Cancian, Design: Mary Wunderle

CRC would only continue to get stronger as the day wore on, taking on the Vixens next in pool play. Like their top side counterparts, they would have six different players get on the score sheet in a game, displaying depth and a balanced attack. Headlined by Molly Cancian’s three tries and numerous try saving tackles, CRC would crush the Vixens 55-0. Total team defense, with stellar play by front rowers Veronica Ridel and Morgan Rauls, helped keep the score sheet clean throughout, allowing the Open Side to put up a shut out of their own.

Headlined by Molly Cancian’s three tries and numerous try saving tackles, CRC would crush the Vixens 55-0.

The last game of pool play would pit the visiting CRC Open Side against the home team Rockford. CRC proved too much for the home team, and they exerted their will all over the field on both sides of the ball. Paced once again by Cancian’s two tries, and the stellar play of MVP Trommer, CRC pushed the pace of the game from the opening whistle. Strong back line play from Shannon Hustosky and Maggie Wetter tested Rockford’s defense throughout. Solid tackles from Erin Clay up the middle would help CRC come away with a 21-10 win.

Strong back line play from Shannon Hustosky and Maggie Wetter tested Rockford’s defense throughout

In a rematch of the last pool play game CRC would find itself once again pitted against the host’s Rockford in the Open Division final. CRC would prove too much for Rockford a second time around with strong runs by Ashley Mencke up the middle and Hustosky around the end would push Rockford to the breaking point. Cancian would once again find the try zone twice, finishing her day with 40 points on 8 tries over four matches. MVP Trommer would put the finishing touches on a fantastic day with huge hits all over the field, and ending up in the try zone herself again. CRC would go on to capture the Open division title by a score of 40-10.

Forest City 7s - 2019