The USA’s Sammy Sullivan, left, runs with Ilona Maher, center, who gets past the tackle of Brazil's Gabriela Lima during the women's Pool C Rugby Sevens match between the United States and Brazil at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP)

SAINT-DENIS, France — The U.S. women’s rugby sevens team was in desperate need of a spark right before halftime of its second Olympic pool-play match against Brazil at Stade de France on Sunday.

Struggling to break through a determined Brazilian line, the Eagles appeared to be headed into the break tied.

Enter Sammy Sullivan. The 26-year-old Army captain caught a pass at midfield, started left and cut back right to score in the middle of the try zone.

The try proved crucial, as it gave the U.S. the lead for good. The 24-5 win punched the Eagles’ tickets into Monday’s quarterfinals, which start at 9 p.m. Central European Time.

It was the second time in as many games that Sullivan scored in stoppage time of the first half.

The edge prop also did so in a 36-7 win over Japan in the Olympic opener Sunday afternoon. Sullivan powered through two Japanese tackle attempts before entering the try zone on the left wing.

“This try felt way cooler because it was from farther away,” Sullivan said of the score against Brazil. “I think for a little bit there in the first half we were definitely losing momentum.

“To get that momentum swing back in our direction going into the second half was pretty big, and I think going into that second half, we had more of a take-it-to-them instead of letting-them-take-it-to-us mentality, which is ultimately what secured us the win.”

U.S. Army Capt. Sammy Sullivan, upper left, celebrates with Olympic teammate Kayla Canett after scoring a try at the end of the first half of the Eagles' 36-7 win over Japan on July 28, 2024, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Sullivan was one of five Olympic debutants to see the field for the U.S. She stood out on the field, playing every minute of both matches.

“Sammy has not only athletic and rugby ability, but a personality that makes you want to fight for her,” said teammate Ilona Maher, who recorded two tries across both contests. “She has so much passion in everything she does, and she’s somebody who’s going to give her all to it.”

The U.S. got off to a fast start when, just 28 seconds into the match, Alev Kelter took the ball from the middle of the field, found some space near the left sideline and stiff-armed an opponent to give her squad a 5-0 lead.

In the sixth minute, though, Brazil responded. Thalia Costa took the ball away after a scrum and tied the game. The U.S. eventually took control, though.

Against Japan, the Americans got a wake-up call very early in the game. In the second minute, the Japanese took advantage of the Eagles’ slow reaction to a tackle, with Sakura Mizutani finding a hole in the middle of the American line to scamper into the try zone.

Hanako Utsumi scored the conversion to make it 7-0 in favor of the Sakura Sevens. It was all U.S. after that, however, as the Eagles rattled off 36 unanswered points.

“To lose our first possession, I think it did wake us up a bit, kind of give us that kick in the pants we needed,” Sullivan said.

She couldn’t have asked for a better start to her Olympic career. Along with a try against Japan, the 5-foot-7 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy also set up two tries by teammates, the first in the sixth minute to teammate Kristi Kirshe for her second strike in a two-minute span.

Sullivan was taken to the ground before turning around and finding Kirshe, who scampered into the try zone.

The second came in the ninth minute to make it 29-7. Sullivan took a shot from a Japanese defender but not before pitching it to Maher. The 27-year-old back then had acres of space to run on the right wing for a try.

“The last minute before halftime is always very crucial, and I feel like my super strength is work ethic,” Sullivan said. “So I think that’s where I shine, that minute. It felt good.”

On Monday, the heat turns up on the U.S. First up is the final pool-play match against France, which will decide the quarterfinal matchups.

Like the Americans, the French went 2-0 on Sunday with victories over Brazil, 26-0, and Japan, 49-0.

Sullivan and Maher described how pumped up the U.S. to face the host nation.

“People were nervous that we’d be worried or scared to play France in France, but we love the French fans, we love the French atmosphere,” Maher said. “So we’re so excited to play France and hear ‘Allez Les Bleus’ and go out there and do our job.”