The Rugby Northeast (RNE) drew attention when it reconfigured into tiers and open up its schedule to allow more crossover friendlies during the regular season. Teams could play up to challenge themselves, or laterally for more comparably skilled competition. But Rugby Northeast is doing a good job of building interest within its own ranks, as two ties and a one-try win punctuated week one. Also eye-catching, Providence College posted a convincing win over powerhouse Stonehill College.
Longtime coach Derek Jenesky left Stonehill last year, and coach turnover always affects a team. But Providence College has its challenges as well. The Friars are light on numbers and experience – the 21 players are mostly sophomores and juniors – and the coaching staff is young as well. Paige Nossek (‘14) is in her second fall season as head coach and assisted by fellow alumni Jaimie Hartwell (’16) and Ciara Pisano (’12). But the personalities are there, and they’re unifying the team.
Providence College returned three players from the RNE All-Conference 15s team, and is captained by senior Bailey Finocchio and junior Mickayla Roan. Forwards captain Finocchio draws great praise from her coach. Known for her work ethic around the pitch – being the first to the breakdowns, making multiple tackles in a row and then rucking her ball – she serves as an excellent role model for the team.
“Bailey is the definition of a player that has heart and will play her absolute hardest and best until she physically is unable to give any more,” Nossek described the No. 8. “Bailey is a player that always does the dirty work of a match, but rarely gets the reward for it. She is an incredible leader on and off the field and always puts her teammates first.”
Nossek noted that Finocchio doesn’t appear in the box score all that often, as that’s not her role, but backs captain Roan is a permanent fixture on the score sheet. Last season, the inside center accounted for 223 of the Friars’ 413 total points, scoring 31 tries and 34 conversions. She has broken three previously set RNE records for tries, conversions and overall points in a single season, and all of Providence College’s records. She’s an inspiration to watch and always working to improve. For her efforts last year, she was name RNE Player of the Year.
Junior flanker Aria Ross is another constant force for Providence and averages three tries per game. She is reliable, growth-driven, and leaves nothing on the pitch. Ross was the only Providence College player to be named to both the 7s and 15s all-conference teams.
In the last few seasons, Providence has averaged a .500 record, according to Nossek, and in 2015 the Friars went 5-3 and led the league in points scored. The Rhode Island team did not ease into fall 2016, and started with perennial state finalist Stonehill College.
“Year after year they have great athletes take the field. Their offense is always top notch and we knew that we had to bring our best defense to the match,” Nossek said of the mental prep. “Providence is definitely an offensive team and we capitalize on scoring opportunities.”
Halfbacks Savannah Miller, a junior, and sophomore Jillian Sweeney drove the attack, and even more impressively, are first-years in the pivotal positions. Miller transitioned from wing to take over scrumhalf this year, while Sweeney, a wing/hooker, is now the starting flyhalf.
“Our biggest asset throughout the match was our ability to counter-attack,” the coach added. “For portions of the game, we would be on defense, but still be gaining yards towards our try line because we were making our hits in their backfield.”
It was a full-team effort that resulted in a 59-14 victory. Roan scored 34 points, while sophomore Lauren Hindley, Ross (2), junior Michelle Feely and junior Ashley King also added tries.
“This was a big win for us,” Nossek concluded. “I have always seen Providence to be a well-rounded team with girls who are kind and caring hard-workers who know how to turn the switch on when it’s time to play. I have never met a group of girls who truly know the definition of working as a team, more than these girls do.”
The entire first weekend was an interesting one in the Rugby Northeast. There were two ties – Bentley 12-12 Franklin Pierce, UMass Lowell 31-31 Southern Connecticut – and a one-try victory (Bryant 22-17 St. Anselm). Roger Williams opened up against Merrimack in a 72-0 win, while reigning champ St. Michael’s played DI fall champion UCONN to a 24-19 loss.
Stay tuned for a dense fall 15s season.
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