Cal takes aim at third straight rugby sevens title

The rugby sevens squad from the University of California is no stranger to PPL Park, home of the collegiate rugby championships this weekend.

Walking off the field in sticky late-afternoon heat Saturday after their third pool-play game - against Virginia Tech - the Golden Bears had a familiar view: parents decked in navy and gold smacking their palms together in support; sweaty, shirtless fans sipping from cans of beer; and the rosy-cheeked faces of Cal's players beaming down at the crowd from the video board overhead.

The feeling is familiar, too. In every year since the tournament's inception in 2010, Cal has emerged undefeated from pool play. The Golden Bears parlayed that momentum into national championships in 2013 and 2014.

"We're pretty well used to everyone wanting to beat us and playing their best game against us," coach Jack Clark said.

Cal's 15-man squad posted a 17-2 season, falling only to a professional team from British Columbia in February and Brigham Young at the Varsity Cup national championship earlier this month.

The Golden Bears have had very few wins in which they did not punish their opponents - Cal scored at least 100 points in four of its games in 2015.

In the sevens on Saturday, Cal cruised through its first two games in Pool A, collecting a 33-5 win over Boston College and routing Notre Dame, 39-5.

Cal's final game of the day, against Virginia Tech, proved to be more of a challenge. The Golden Bears' offense was hung up in the midfield thanks to strong defense from the Hokies. Through 14 minutes of what Clark described as "rusty" play, Cal emerged victorious in a 17-12 match.

If anything, the Virginia Tech tilt proved that the path to a three-peat will be no cakewalk. In the tournament's short history, no team has ever won three years in a row.

"Just because we've done it twice before doesn't mean that it's going to happen a third time. It's going to take equal, if not more, effort than it's ever taken before," senior fullback Jake Anderson said.

Anderson would know - the team cocaptain was instrumental in Cal's two championship runs.

Despite the pressure to get results, Anderson and Clark agreed that the team does not feel burdened by having a target on its back.

According to Clark, "We wouldn't have it any other way."

When: Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m.

Where: PPL Park.

TV: NBC-SN, 2-4 p.m.; NBC10, 4-6 p.m.

Saturday's action

Four teams - two-time defending champion California, Navy, Indiana, and Arkansas State - emerged from the first day of pool play undefeated. Joining those four in the quarterfinals Sunday are Michigan, Arizona, Kutztown, and Life.

Two Philadelphia teams took part on Saturday. Temple, competing in pool B against Air Force, Navy, and Kutztown, finished the day winless. The Owls will play Clemson on Sunday in a consolation game. St. Joseph's fared better, beating Arizona, 12-5, before falling to Penn State and perennial powerhouse Dartmouth. The Hawks will face Alabama in a consolation-bracket semifinal.

On the women's side, eight teams competed in the quarterfinals on the Academy field just outside the gates of PPL Park. In the first game, Life beat Delaware, 27-5. Shortly after, Michigan routed Notre Dame, 28-0, to earn a spot in Sunday's semifinal match against the Eagles. Later in the afternoon James Madison bested Arizona, 15-12, and on Sunday the Dukes will face Kutztown, which defeated Arizona, 17-12.

Saturday's Results

MEN

POOL A

Virginia Tech 36, Notre Dame 19

California 33, Boston College 5

Boston College 17, Virginia Tech 17, tie

California 39, Notre Dame 5

Notre Dame 19, Boston College 15

California 12, Virginia Tech 7

POOL B

Navy 12, Temple 7

Kutztown 24, Air Force 14

Navy 24, Kutztown 14

Air Force 24, Temple 12

Kutztown 47, Temple 7

Navy 27, Air Force 5

POOL C

Life 26, Clemson 14

Indiana 27, Alabama 12

Alabama 14, Clemson 12

Indiana 24, Life 19

Life 36, Alabama 0

Indiana 27, Clemson 5

POOL D

UCLA 50, Texas 0

Arkansas State 17, Michigan 5

Arkansas State 22, Texas 10

Michigan 17, UCLA 12

Michigan 29, Texas 10

Arkansas State 19, UCLA 0

POOL E

Dartmouth 31, St. Joseph's 7

Arizona 33, Penn State 10

St. Joseph's 12, Arizona 5

Dartmouth 15, Penn State 10

Penn State 24, St. Joseph's 21

Arizona 24, Dartmouth 0

WOMEN

Life 27, Delaware 5

Michigan 28, Notre Dame 0

James Madison 15, Arizona 12

Kutztown 17, Arizona 12

Life 19, Kutztown 0

Michigan 32, James Madison 17

Arizona 31, Notre Dame 5

Delaware 22, Boston 7

Penn State 31, American International 0

Lindenwood 24, Notre Dame College 17

Sunday's Games

MEN

Cup Quarterfinals

Navy vs. Life, 9 a.m.

Indiana vs. Kutztown, 9:20 a.m.

Arkansas St. vs. Arizona, 9:40 a.m.

California vs. Michigan, 10 a.m.

Shield Semifinals

Boston College vs. Texas, 10:20 a.m.

Clemson vs. Temple, 10:40 a.m.

Bowl Semifinals

St. Joseph's vs. Alabama, 11 a.m.

Penn State vs. Notre Dame, 11:20 a.m.

Plate Semifinals

Dartmouth vs. Air Force, 2:10

Virginia Tech vs. UCLA, 2:35

Cup Semifinals

TBD, 3

TBD, 3:25

Shield Final

TBD, 4:10

Bowl Final

TBD, 4:34

Plate Final

TBD, 4:59

Cup Final

TBD, 5:23

WOMEN

Life vs. Michigan

James Madison vs. Kutztown

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