Women's rugby wins milestone title Women's rugby wins milestone title (May 04, 2005)

Collegiate crown gives Stanford its 100th national championship

by Rick Eymer

Stanford junior Olivia Anglade may not be one of the most recognizable among the great athletes who have competed on The Farm over the years, but she and her women's rugby teammates have found their own field of dreams.

In fact, after beating defending USA Rugby Collegiate champion Penn State, 53-6, on Saturday at Steubner Rugby Stadium on Stanford's campus, the Cardinal rugby team of 2005 has the distinct honor of winning the school's 100th national title.

And while the rugby title doesn't count toward Stanford's effort to win its 11th consecutive Director's Cup, it will hold a place of honor in a sport that is beginning to push itself into the conscious of collegiate athletics.

Rugby used to be an Olympic sport - the United States won gold medals in 1920 and 1924 using several Stanford players - and is one of the fastest growing sports in high school.

Stanford grad David Yancey, one of the founding members of the Stanford Rugby Foundation, is among the proud alumni who helped the school make a major commitment to the sport as early as 1987, resulting in the finest collegiate facilities in the nation.

The Cardinal women won their second national title, in front of a home crowd, after reaching their fifth Final Four. Stanford also won in 1999.

The current stadium was dedicated on March 8, 2003 and has already hosted each of the past three collegiate championships.

"The rugby field is full international size and engineered with the latest in natural turf and drainage technology," Yancey told Rugby magazine. "We see the facility as an opportunity for both Stanford and US rugby. We like to think of the facility as Stanford rugby's "Field of Dreams." Build it and they will come."

Anglade, named the MVP of the Final Four, made sure Stanford stayed focused a day after beating Princeton, 27-22, a game in which the Cardinal led 27-5 and then had to stave off a frantic comeback bid. Paly grad Jossy Tseng played for Princeton.

Stanford took charge against Penn State early, scoring on tries by Anglade and Carey Myslewski early.

Even after taking a 29-3 halftime lead there was no letdown as Anglade and Myslewski each scored early in the second half to make sure the Nittany Lions remained at bay.

"Nobody expected anything out of us," Anglade said. "But we always knew we had a good team."

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