A year ago, Sacred Heart was celebrating its first win as a varsity program, having defeated Molloy College, then a club team, in a pre-season friendly. As the Pioneers battled through its first season in the now-named National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) in fall 2015, the Lions took notes in anticipation of its own transition from club to varsity. Fast-forward to last weekend, and it was Molloy’s turn to celebrate its first win in NIRA, and fittingly, it came against fellow Tier 2 team Sacred Heart.
“Honestly, it felt like a great weight off my shoulders – and the players’ as well,” said Molloy College head coach Melissa Olman. “They were nervous about the game and anxious for the season to begin. … We just want to continue our success as a club and bring it to the varsity side, and so the win gave the team a lot of confidence.”
As Molloy prepped for its first varsity season, there was some reason for concern. Fortunately, the creation of a Tier 2 meant the Lions could face comparable competition – instead of the heavyweights in Tier 1 – with an opportunity to grow both in experience, and numbers. Since last season, the program lost 15 players not only to graduation but also incoming freshmen who balked at the time commitment required of a varsity program. While those freshmen might return in the spring, the Lions are currently 18 players strong.
But the team made good use of its preseason and entered Saturday’s game with solid fitness and chemistry. Driving that connection are captain/flyhalf Elizabeth Kaminski and vice captain/outside center Jackie Maida, the role models who have the team’s longevity and future successes at heart. Also noteworthy is junior Caroline Nickels, who is a great voice on the pitch and passion incarnate.
“We’re pretty even between backs and forwards experience wise, but those core players are in our backline,” Olman said. “We’re looking for our forwards to maintain possession and produce quick ball for our scrumhalf, so we can get it to our back line. We have a lot of speed in our back line and want to use the width of the field.”
Saturday saw some breakout performances in the forwards, including freshman Maddie Howell, who played high school ball. Molloy graduated front row talent and Howell stepped into prop unintimidated in the scrum and aggressive in open play. Siobhan Coady also made an impression. Moving from the back line to flanker this year, she unleashed a tenacious tackle rate that more than pleased her coach.
The match itself lived up to those rivalry and season-opener expectations. Molloy established an early lead, but as the fourth quarter approached, Sacred Heart had closed to within a converted try, 24-17. The Pioneers were attacking on the Lions’ 22, threatening to tie the game.
“We were on our heels. And the crowd was loud. We’ve never played in front of that kind of crowd and needed to remain calm,” Olman reflected on the game’s turning point. “During the halftime talk, my focus was on controlling the ball in the breakdowns – they were sloppy. I also told the players that this game was going to be decided after the 65th minute, and I knew we were the fitter team.”
During Sacred Heart’s attack, the ball popped loose from the ruck, and Emily Kaminski scooped it up and raced down the field for the try.
“That silenced the crowd,” Olman said. “And then we scored two more tries. They just needed to remain calm and get the crowd of their heads.”
All told, Jericka Ruiz, Sam Guido, Nickels, Elizabeth and Emily Kaminski, Maida and Megan Riveiro scored tries in the 45-22 win.
Although growing pains like attrition are inevitable, the varsity legacy has started well. The Lions will look to improve upon its NIRA record this weekend against the University of New England.
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