Santa Monica Women Roll Over Vegas Slots, 76-14

 The Santa Monica Women’s team headed to Las Vegas this past weekend to face their former Division 2 opponents the Las Vegas Slots. The Dolphins won decisively with a score of 76-12.

The first half started quickly for Santa Monica when inside center Nina Crane split the Slots’ defensive easily to touch down the first try of the game. Jacki Bercovici kicked the conversion, which was good (7-0). Just 8 minutes later, captain and outside center Whitney Vance broke through the line once more after a textbook set up by the forwards. (12-0) The SM forwards then took their turn when Jacque Davisson took the ball straight from kickoff and ran it in for a try easily, shaking off multiple defenders. Bercovici’s conversion was good again, bring the score to 19-0. The next 10 minutes showcased the Dolphin defense, keeping the Slots from advancing and scoring for 7 minutes while applying pressure. This pressure resulted in a Slots knock and turnover for the Dolphins, when Lucy Tin scored easily off the resulting scrum (conversion good, 26-0). April Rodriguez then notched another forward try for the ‘Phins off a series of forward punches, bringing the score to 31-0. At the end of the half, the defensive pressure lightened and the Slots were able to score, bringing the halftime score to 31-7.

In the second half, the Slots came out with a vengeance and scored almost immediately after the whistle, bringing the score to 31-12. However, the Dolphins shook it off and went off on a series of tries, with unrelenting offensive pressure. Vance and Rodriguez each notched their second tries within the next 20 minutes, bringing the score to 43-12. Then wing Hannah Han added another of her own (conversion good, 50-12). Following a dump tackle, Vegas was yellow carded and down a player for 10 of the remaining 15 minutes of the half. Ornela Amulic finished off a beautiful backline play, 55-12. Davisson then marched down the field once more and notched her second try of the game (conversion good, 62-12). Winger Alex Walker made a statement in the last 10 minutes of the game by scoring 2 tries within just 5 minutes. The final whistle blew with a score of 76-12 for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins go on the road once more this weekend against Tempe. After their first win against Belmont (48-10) and this decisive victory, the women are confident heading into the desert once more!