Spartans win Plate Division title

The Chisago Lakes Spartans rugby team capped their season last weekend with a state championship in the Plate Division, which was previously known as Tier II. After a first round bye, the Spartans had to scratch and claw their way past Faribault in the semi-finals. They went down 12-0 after the first half, and Head Coach Tony Randall basically started prepping for their consolation matches.

“We were getting killed,” he said bluntly. “I asked a few of the players if they were ready to go later today [in the consolation bracket].” But the switch flipped in the second half, and they scored three tries and converted one of the kicks for a dramatic 17-12 comeback victory. Gabby Randall scored all three tries for the Spartans during their comeback. “The girls just decided they wanted it more,” Coach Randall said. “They knew what was at stake. But I was still in shock. I didn’t think we had a chance after the first half.”

Randall was thoroughly impressed with Anne Goosen. She stepped in seamlessly to the scrum half position because regular scrum half Maddie Alliegro wasn’t able to be at the state tournament. The championship match pitted the Spartans against Minnetonka, a team that they had beaten earlier this year. “I was a little worried we would look past them because we had beaten them earlier in the year,” Randall said. Chisago Lakes struck quickly in the title game at the Metrodome, scoring a try in the first minute, but they also lost Goosen to a minor concussion, so they had to go to their third scrum half. Kaitlyn Owens moved to the scrum half from her regular position and Kyra Danielowski replaced Owens. Minnetonka did answer to CL’s early try to tie it at 5-5, but the Spartans eventually took a 15-5 lead and didn’t give it up, winning 25-12. Amanda Shoquist, Katelyn Sargeant and Owens each had one try and Randall had two, giving her five on the tournament. She was named Saturday’s MVP and Sunday’s co-MVP with Owens.

“It was a very cool experience to play at the Metrodome for the championship game,” Randall said. “They had those huge eyeballs in warm ups, but once we were on the field, it was just like any other field. “Everyone contributed and it was a total team effort. Players made key plays at key times for us.”