The Harvard women’s rugby team has played in four tournaments this sevens season and for the fourth time, it made it to the semifinals. This time, however, the team went 3-1 en route to the championship game of the Atlanta 7s tournament played at Kennesaw State University this weekend. The Crimson competed against Life University’s A team, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Lindenwood in pool play before competing against Life in the championship game of the two-day tournament.

The Atlanta 7s tournament is an international tournament, held as the United States’ stop on the Women's 7s World Cup series. The United States’ women’s national team competed at the tournament along with 11 of the other top national teams in the world. Harvard competed in the Elite College bracket of the tournament, taking second behind Life. The Crimson entered the tournament as the three seed in the Elite College bracket.

“It was great,” freshman Caitlin Weigel said. “In the afternoon, we went and we watched the international tournament, which was so exciting to see these people we watch [online]. We actually got to meet some of them which was really cool.”

Harvard 5, Life A 17

After downing the opening try, Harvard was shut out by Life for the rest of the championship match. Senior Aniebiet Abasi downed the Crimson’s lone try of the match, after sophomore Haley Langan fed Abasi for a 60-yard sprint.

However, the Running Eagles were able to down three straight tries while blanking Harvard for the remainder of the match. This was the Crimson’s second loss to Life at the tournament.

“We showed a lot of heart in all the games we played,” Weigel said, “and we were able to put in a different game plan and adjust how we played every game which shows a very high level of maturity from the team.”

Harvard 41, Texas A&M 0

Harvard opened up pool play strong, shutting out the Aggies. Abasi opened up scoring early in the first half as the Crimson took a four-try advantage into the intermission. Harvard continued to work the field as sophomore co-captain Isa Delaura downed her first try of the sevens season in the second half.

Harvard 5, Life A 33

In Friday’s final game, the Crimson was not able to contain Life’s attack, losing the first of two games against the Running Eagles. Life’s Deshel Ferguson downed the first try of the match to put the Running Eagles up 7-0. Weigel put the Crimson within two soon after, but Ferguson followed with two more tries. Life went into halftime up 14-5.

“When you’re competing against powerhouses in your sport...you give it everything you’ve got,” Abasi said.

Harvard 20, Ohio State 0

Out of Harvard’s 12 wins this sevens season, seven have been shut outs. After blanking Texas A&M in the Friday’s opening match, Saturday began on a similar note as the Crimson shut out Ohio State, 20-0. The Buckeyes gave up a pair of tries in each half to Harvard.

Harvard 20, Lindenwood 14

Lindenwood was the top seed in pool play, but the Crimson was able to upset the Lions in its final pool play game. While Lindenwood opened up scoring in the match, Abasi was able to even the score at seven. However, the Lions took a 14-7 lead into half.

Lindenwood was unable to stem Harvard’s second half attack, though. Weigel continued her dominant play in sevens as she downed the second half’s opening try, tying the game at 14-14. In the closing minutes, sophomore Haley Langan and junior Claire Collins set up Weigel for the go-ahead score as the Crimson upset the Lions to move to the Elite College championship.

“That game was probably our toughest mental game we had to go through this weekend,” Weigel said. “We really had to fight. It would’ve been easy to just write it off, but every try that we had...was complete faith with our team.”

—Staff writer Wade G. Player can be reached at wade.player@thecrimson.com