On paper, the San Diego Surfers had Pool D of the Women’s Club 7s National Championship won. With names like Emilie Bydwell, Val Griffeth, Ryan Carlyle and Katie Lorenz – all of whom have USA 7s experience – the Surfers boasted a lineup that could take them deep into the playoffs.

And they might still, but not as the top seed out of the pool. It was the DC Furies who went undefeated through day one, and topped off their pool play performance with a 10-7 win over the Surfers.

Heading into the last round, both teams were 2-0, as Berkeley 2 and Middlesex Falcons posed little problem.

DC got on the board in the third minute, when Julie Hogan came down with the lineout throw and slipped past the opposition lifters through to the try zone. San Diego answered the score minutes later, when Katie Lorenz took a beautiful offload from Ryan Carlyle fighting her way to the ground, then outraced Hogan in pursuit for the try, which Griffeth converted, 7-5.

From the subsequent kickoff, DC’s Brenna Costello raced down the sideline, then kicked ahead and gathered the ball before eventually being dragged down. As the defense reset, Costello a long skip pass to Liz Hirschhorn on the wing for the easy try, 10-7.

In the second half, DC’s Eli White added a five-pointer, after one of San Diego’s many penalties allowed the scrumhalf to quick-tap from a halted scrum and squeeze between slow-reacting defenders. Costello hit a great conversion for the 17-7 final.

“This game was a gauge of how well we’re playing and clicking together in this tournament,” DC coach Sue Parker said. “We still have some areas to improve. Our timing in terms of our play around the contact area needs to improve a little bit and we can make those adjustments. But even more so, this game tell us that against a really excellent team with really excellent players, we’re going to maintain our composure, execute our own gamplan and give ourselves a chance to win.”

Parker attributed the win to the players’ dedication to teamwork.

“We don’t have any superstars compared to some of the other teams in the top of the other pools,” Parker explained. “The thing that drives this team is how great it feels when they’re playing together as a team, when they’re well connected on defense, when they pass, support, run and make those linebreaks. That’s what we focus on, and you saw that in the game. The tries were all scored by different people. There isn’t a single person carrying this team on their shoulders and that keeps every person in the groove.”

That said, Parker described captain Jess Shipley as the team’s glue.

“She’s so great,” Parker commended. “She has a classic, understated personality but she has an instinctive feel for the game and what her teammates need at a given time.”

Looking ahead to the Cup Quarterfinals, DC will be looking for some revenge as they take on NOVA 1. The two have met twice over the summer 7s season, and NOVA 1 has been victorious on both occasions.

San Diego will see Berkeley in the round of eight.

As for the Bowl competitors, the Falcons will see Belmont Shore and Berkeley 2 takes on Morris.

DAY ONE STANDINGS