Lindenwood University spoiled a Life University two-far, taking the Running Eagles 34-8 in the final of the Women’s D1 Elite college championship.

Life had already won a Men’s D1A final against Cal, but the double proved too elusive, as Lindenwood’s superb backline won the day.

The teams were tight for much of the first half, but sparked by the playmaking of flyhalf McKenzie Hawkins, the Lions scored three tries - all converted by their #10 - to turn a 3-3 tie into a 24-3 halftime lead.

Lindenwood had played excellent defense in beating BYU the day before, and did the same against a very quick Life team. 

“Our coaches prepared us really well,” Hawkins told FloRugby this weekend. “We just focus on a few things and it works for us.”

Hawkins added that the team wants to keep a high energy and maintain that physicality, and they certainly did that. The Lions cruised 36-8, a very impressive score considering how Life had dominated virtually every opponent this season.

Lindenwood 34
Tries: Arena, Tafito, Bueso Gomez, Ah Far
Convs: Hawkins 4
Pens: Hawkins 2

Life 8
Tries: Broughton
Pens: Wilson

Lindenwood: 1. M. Healy, 2. D. Arena, 3. A. Lewis, 4. T. Person, 5. M. Davis, 6. A. Ah Far, 7. J. Taufa, 8. D. Paogofie-Buyten, 9. A. Padraza, 10. M. Hawkins, 11. S. Tarau-Peehikuru, 12. V. Tafito, 13. T. Bueso-Gomez, 14. C. Karl, 15. C. De Freitas - Reserves: 16. A. Reed, 17. I. Manu, 18. P. Tuilaepa, 19. N. Gray, 20. M. Hemahema, 21. M. Strong, 22. K. Barlow, 23. M. Gold

Life: 1. M. Rom, 2. M. Lowe, 3. C. Holani, 4. T. Makowski, 5. R. Santiago, 6. N. Butler, 7. K. Faget, 8. D. Lovelace, 9. M. Ohmann, 10. W. Wilson, 11. A. Fanning, 12. M. Marin Garcia, 15. A. Sedrick, 14. S. Cervinski, 13. K. Broughton - Reserves: 16. C. Lambert, 17. T. Van Hoosier-McNeil, 18. A. Poulin, 19. G. Bergamin, 20. T. Johnson, 21. K. Haynes, 22. J. Jones, 23. A. Owen