Photo courtesy Sacred Heart University Women’s Rugby •
When Sacred Heart transitioned from a club to a varsity team last year, it joined the now-named National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) immediately. Last fall was a tough season with lopsided scores, but the experience had its benefits for both the Pioneers and the varsity league as a whole.
Fall 2015 was a gut check for Sacred Heart, a small university (approx. 5,000 undergrads) in Fairfield, Conn. After some triple-digit losses to the likes of Norwich and AIC, the players’ resolve was tested and those committed to building a program remained.
“We’ve had a turnover in student-athletes and think we’ve found the foundation for the next couple of years,” Sacred Heart coach Michelle Reed said. “From [last] fall to the spring, we lost and gained players, and that helped in the transition. Some kids weren’t cut out for a DI program – how it’s run and the time commitment.”
Incremental successes started amassing during spring 2016.
“After the fall season, we were just trying to build up physical endurance and strength,” Reed said. “For the returners, they’ve been in the strength-and-conditioning program for almost a year now, and we saw some of that improvement in the spring, too. The kids built up confidence that came from the weight room. They were stronger, faster, fitter on the field, and when that new [7s] team came together, they clicked. When they won their first 7s game at Harvard, you could see the look in their eyes: We can do this. We can be successful.”
And that’s all the players needed to build some momentum into the summer. Reed has been pleased as players return in good physical condition and with better skills. As the leadership core works out, the coach will be looking toward seniors like Emily Mignogni, Kaitlyn McNicholas, Charlotte Tallman and Sarah Rodzevik to guide the team. They’re graduating and want to leave a legacy with Sacred Heart. Reed will also be looking toward younger players like Nicole Bazalar and Margaret Woods to make an impact this year.
The NIRA landscape is also different, better, in its second season. The league split into two tiers so young programs like Sacred Heart – which is joined by newcomers Bowdoin, Castleton, Molloy and Univ. New England in Tier 2 – have a competition in which they can adjust to varsity-level play before lining up against the powerhouses.
“We’re in a better place than last fall. We’re looking forward to being more competitive against teams more toward our level,” Reed said. “There’s buy-in into what we’re trying to do as a program, too. I tell them it’s not about the Ws; it’s about the team culture. Once you build that then the winning will come.”
Reed has also enjoyed her first recruitment class. Catholic Memorial’s Kelsey Gustafson represents the Wisconsin state champion, while Connecticut talent is found in Allie Rinaldi, Kasey Newman, Kaylee Hale and Nicole Lopes. Morris’ Tyffany Brisbane was a late addition, switching from Wheeling Jesuit, which dissolved its varsity program before it launched. And Stony Brook’s Marissa Yost has transferred across state lines to join the Pioneers.
“My philosophy is: We’re young and want to build local connections and give local kids the opportunity to show there is talent here, even though there are only a few teams in Connecticut,” Reed said. “It’s been great building relationships with coaches, and they’re grateful to have this opportunity for their kids. Coaches are continually e-mailing me prospects for who they think would fit in our program.”
Eleven players have returned from last season and some injuries mean that Sacred Heart will be light on numbers. Reed is setting up tryouts for walk-ons to build up the roster, but the existing squad is mentally preparing itself for the season ahead. The players have embraced the tag lines, “Earn everything,” and “Love the struggle,” and will test their resolve this fall.
“Last year, we just wanted to get through the fall,” Reed reflected on the shift in goals. “Now they want to prove last year wrong. They’re hungry to show the rugby world and the [Sacred Heart] community that they can be successful and win. As long as we stay healthy and fit, we have good potential to be in the second tier playoffs.”
Sacred Heart plays its first NIRA game of the season on Saturday against New York’s Molloy, a team with which Reed has regularly communicated as it transitioned to a varsity program this year. The eight league games are separated by a bye week, and then Tier 2 playoffs begin the second weekend in November.
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