Photos: Jackie Finlan
In its debut at the High School Club National Invitational Tournament (NIT) last year, North Bay won Division II and now enters the DI competition ranked third overall. The team has been one of the most consistent and successful on the east coast this spring and is riding Sunday’s Maryland state championship win – 57-10 over the Maryland Exiles – to Mufreesboro, Tenn., later this week.
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This time last year, east coast powers like North Bay, West End, Morris, among others, were discussing an elite league that crossed state lines. It didn’t come together for a variety of reasons, and North Bay found itself struggling for competition. The team’s traditional nemesis, West Carroll, is rebuilding and the Exiles replaced it as North Bay’s best in-state opponent. McMinn Tribe visited for a 55-5 decision in favor of the host, and North Bay’s tournament outings – D.C. Ruggerfest, Exiles’ International Youth Festival, Northeast Invitational – also produced lopsided victories, with one exception.
“We played most competitive match against PA United at MD Exiles’ tournament,” North Bay coach Scott Hoffman said. “They were short and picked up some high-level players and gave us a run. We lost that match [23-17]. We missed opportunities to take control of it, and it went down to the wire. That was it, really. Everything else was lopsided.
“I don’t want to undersell our girls. They work hard and are talented and driven,” the coach added. “As a coach I try to keep them grounded. ‘This team is not at our level so let’s keep this 90-0 win in perspective.’”
At any given point in a time, a team might need to regroup due to injuries or other commitments, or weather might limit field time. And that’s why numbers and depth are so important in countering those inevitabilities.
“Coaches always ask us how we maintain 40 girls on the roster. It’s recruiting,” Hoffman dispelled any mystery. “We talk to girls in grocery stores, on the street – anyone who looks athletic. We print up business cards and parents will take them to various sporting events. Players convince their friends and competitors in other sports. It’s really the only way we’ve been able to sustain these numbers.”
This year, North Bay is bringing 14 of last year’s 15 starters to Mufreesboro, Tenn., for the NIT. No. 8 Sam Tancredi captains the forwards, and the future Lindenwood Lion is one of six seniors with college rugby aspirations. Scrumhalf Kaitlyn Schwarting (who commutes from Virginia Beach, eight hours by train, to play with North Bay) is heading to Army West Point, prop Hailey Thomas will join the Royals at Queens University of Charlotte, and lock Mackenzie Smith plans to play with UMBC. The other two seniors are still waiting final confirmation.
Flyhalf Alex Pipkin captains the backs, and she leads a large junior class. She’s also one of several North Bay players with next-level experience, whether with the Girls’ High School All-Americans, Youth Olympic Games qualifier team, Atlantis or New Jersey Blaze.
“There’s a little bit of nervous energy but I’m just trying to get them to appreciate the magnitude and opportunity of what’s before us,” Hoffman said of the otherwise confident squad. “[As for goals,] if it wasn’t to win it all then I’ve done something wrong along the way. Obviously you want to have fun and enjoy it all, especially considering the effort everyone puts into it. It definitely makes it all worthwhile regardless of the outcome.”
North Bay will not want for competition starting Friday, when the Maryland team lines up against southern California’s Belmont Shore. A newcomer to the NIT, the Emo Pula-led team is one of several western clubs that Hoffman is eager to face.
A note about the club NIT: It’s a 10-team division and so some creative scheduling was needed. Essentially, the 7th-10th ranked teams contest a play-in game on Friday, and the winners play the top-two-ranked teams in a second game Friday. All other teams play one game Friday and two Saturday. See the schedule for more detail.
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