UCF’s Cortney Kuehl for the Florida HPP at Vegas 7s /// Photo: Jackie Finlan
Florida’s DI collegiate league has undergone several revisions throughout the years, but the University of Central Florida has continually found itself searching for competition. Last year, it appeared that UCF had found an equal in Florida International University, but then the program buckled in its sophomore year in DI, forfeited matches and left gaps in the schedule that could have otherwise been filled with higher-level friendlies. That experience reinforced a lesson that UCF has already learned and it’s forcing some alternate solutions to the competition gap.
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UCF coach Raoul Besse hasn’t been idling by. The coach scheduled all of the team’s matrix matches in the spring in an attempt to consolidate the peaking process. The team went 8-0, and with forfeit wins removed, averaged a 77-8 victory over opponents. UCF added some tournaments to the schedule and was eager to face nationally ranked Virginia Tech during last weekend’s Savannah St. Patrick’s Day tournament, but won the final against the Mason Dixon team 56-7.
The Orlando squad has also kept its relationship with the senior Florida High Performance Program intact. Seven players traveled to the Las Vegas Invitational to compete in the Women’s Elite 7s division, and Jessica Warner was called up to the USA Falcons. Warner, Jackie Edge, Cortney Kuehl, Agnes Fuerst and Jennifer Fasano employ that higher-level experience in the back line for UCF. The team in general is junior-senior heavy, but while the aforementioned missed the team’s final matrix match against South Florida, freshman newcomer Jessica Spataro distinguished herself at flyhalf with 26 points.
Depth is showing itself in the forwards, too – like freshman Christina Norman, a big flanker from Sebastian River – and the big, strong pack is setting the tone for game play.
“We’re probably as big a team as you’ll ever see. We dwarf almost every team we play,” said Besse, who noted that his pack included five players bigger than himself. “The game runs on Sara Karuli and Julia Phillips – two physical props who run hard. If they’re going, then we’re going.”
Besse clarified that the forwards are big, but not slow. Last year’s playoff experience highlighted team fitness as an area of improvement, as UCF lost its spring quarterfinal to the University of North Carolina 39-31 (current USA 7s Eagle Naya Tapper scored four tries in that game).
This year, UCF will face the winner of the Mason Dixon conference in the DI spring Round of 16 at Life University on April 22. UCF’s opponent will be confirmed on March 26, but current predictions have UVA winning the Mason Dixon title.
UCF’s Fuerst jumping against the USA Falcons at the LVI. /// Photo: Jackie Finlan
“We won’t change anything we do,” Besse considered the match-up. “We know they’re small and fast, and we’ll have a size advantage. We’ll literally pound them in the forwards and they’ll have to stop us.
“If we’re allowed to play the way we want to – which is super physical – then we’ll do well,” the coach referenced some issues in the past. “If the ref backs down on the physicality, then we’ll have problems. We ran into that last year.”
Besse explained that his team has been penalized for tackling too hard, blowing up rucks and scrums, and has changed some strategies in those departments to avoid infractions and stoppages. UCF got a good contest in Buffalo State at the Savannah tournament, but generally, opponents have struggled to contest set pieces.
Which brings UCF’s issues full circle. Besse is looking to schedule some games before the playoffs, which are a month away, but the options are limited. The team will have to rely on internal forces to improve and stay motivated.
“Maybe it’s time to step away and refocus,” Besse said of the frustration. “Step away from the Florida league and go independent like Life. Play some Florida teams but build a schedule where we’re going to UNC and Virginia and Life, and hopefully they reciprocate. You do it that way to try and pick up the level. But the other thing is financial and having to raise dues and fundraise.”
Besse also kicked around the idea of leaving college rugby altogether and joining the DII women’s club league in Florida. He confessed that that probably wasn’t the right answer, but it would draw some attention that teams like UCF are in a difficult situation.
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