Women’s Eagles named for Can-Am Series

Rob Cain has selected a group of 27 players for the upcoming tests against Canada at Chula Vista. The Women’s Eagles will play the two-match series on November 20 and 24 to decide the Can-Am Series having beaten their North American rivals 20-18 at the same venue in July.

Included in the group are seven uncapped players, among them 2016 Olympian Katie Johnson who is named as a back row forward. Elizabeth Johnson graduates directly from the u20 program and there are a pair of newcomers from Life West in second row Frieda Fetu’u and outside back Leti Hingano.

Also new is Beantown hooker Kathryn Treder and two Glendale standouts in prop Maya Learned and midfielder Juliann Tordonato. The Merlins provide the most players to the group with six players in total including promising halfback duo Carly Waters and Gabby Cantorna.

An extra pair of halfbacks – Ashlee Byrge and uncapped Darina Roe – will train with the group though they are unlikely to play barring injury.

Nine non-traveling reserves have also been designated – props Azniv Nalbandian and Megan Rom, hooker Saher Hamden, lock Jenny Kronish, back rows Bitsy Cairns and Rachel Ehrecke, flyhalf Mackenzie Hawkins, and outside backs Tess Feury and Nichole Wanamaker. Five of those play for Glendale.

Not considered due to injury were front rower Hope Rogers, second rows Stacey Bridges and Sam Luther, and fullback Meya Bizer. Also left out were a number of players currently competing on the World Sevens Series including No8 Jordan Matyas and backs Alev Kelter, Eti Haungatau, and Kris Thomas.

FORWARDS
Catie Benson (Life West), Charli Jacoby (Chicago North Shore), Nick James (HARC), Maya Learned (Glendale), Joanna Kitlinski (Glendale), Kathryn Treder (Beantown), Frieda Fetu’u (Life West), Kristine Sommer (Seattle Saracens), Nicole Strasko (Life West), Alycia Washington (NYRC), Katie Johnson (Twin Cities), Rachel Johnson (ORSU), Elizabeth Wilson (NOVA), Kate Zackary (capt., San Diego Surfers)

BACKS
Olivia Ortiz (Chicago North Shore), Carly Waters (Glendale), Gabby Cantorna (Glendale), Katana Howard (Twin Cities), Bui Baravilala (San Diego Surfers), Emily Henrich (USA Sevens), Bulou Mataitoga (Berkeley All-Blues), Amy Naber-Bonte (Life West), Juliann Tordonato (Glendale), Kaitlyn Broughton (Glendale), Jennine Duncan (Seattle Saracens), Leti Hingano (Life West), Sara Levy (NYRC)