Photo: Edwing Ulloa
Olivia Soares started playing rugby in high school on a team that parents Jason and Cynthia created. The Gridley (NorCal) alumna intended to play in college but San Diego State University (SDSU) didn’t field a women’s team. So Soares extended the family legacy, and after a year-and-a-half of hard work, the now-sophomore brought the Aztecs women’s team into existence. Last Saturday, San Diego State played – and won – its first 15s league game in the DII Pacific Desert conference.
RELATED: Pacific Desert schedule & results
“It was daunting,” Soares said of creating a rugby team during freshman year of college. “My mom supported me a lot and she knew a few things from starting my club back home, but it’s a whole different thing starting a club through a school.”
Soares spent the 2018-19 schoolyear learning how to add a sport club to the Aztec Recreation offerings. Club sports are afforded financial support, access to Certified Athletic Trainers and facilities, university recognition, and more.
Photo: Edwing Ulloa
“They’re going to be investing time and money in you, so when you’re first starting out, you have to prove your worth and that the team will be a successful club,” Soares said.
An aspiring sport club must first become a student organization, and that designation has its own set of requirements. Until that status is achieved, student-athletes cannot reserve field space or classrooms, post flyers around campus, “table” early in the schoolyear – all of which are important recruitment tools.
“You need an executive board to become a student organization, but I didn’t know anyone,” Soares reflected on freshman year. “I begged my friends to be the VP, treasurer. They didn’t know anything about rugby and had no intention of playing, but signed the papers and did the trainings so I could keep moving.”
Soares did just that – continued moving – and tried to build some momentum while the team’s student organization status pended. She set up the team’s Instagram account (@sdsuwrugby), talked to people on campus, and landed a room in the Women’s Resource Center for a recruitment day. A handful of people showed up and one player stayed on – Angelina Sanchez, the current public relations chair.
Photo: Edwing Ulloa
During summer 2019, Soares was notified that women’s rugby was added as a student organization. The sophomore set up a recruitment table during that busy August-September time period, and that’s when many of today’s players signed on.
The team had a coach lined up but a career change saw that arrangement dissolve.
“The week before we needed a coach, Tony Roulhac e-mailed us out of the blue,” Soares said of the current coach. “We’re so lucky; he’s amazing. He has a lot of knowledge and has a lot of resources and knows a lot of people. He started his own club, too, so he can guide me but also steps back when needed so I can figure it out.”
Soares started conversations with the DII Pacific Desert conference, and in October 2019, the league informed San Diego State that the Aztecs would join the competition for the 2020 season.
“That was motivation to play some games: This is real,” Soares said.
Photo: Edwing Ulloa
Soares estimated that seven of the 20 or so rostered players have played rugby before, and so the fall focused on basics and unity. The team took eight players to face CSU Long Beach and Cal Poly SLO in a round robin, and both squads lent players so San Diego State could familiarize itself with 15s. The Aztecs then fielded 12 players against UCLA, which also lent players, in a fall pre-season game.
“They came out with 40 girls, so there was definitely an intimidation factor,” Soares said of the Bruins. “They have experience and are established, and know how to play. But at that point, we just wanted to get that experience so everyone could see what they were getting into.”
The team is diverse in terms of members’ athletic backgrounds. Aside from the rugby experienced, there are crossovers from softball, soccer, cross country, and more, and they inject both dynamism and speed. That distinction showed itself in the team’s season-opener against Occidental Saturday.
“It was more excitement [than nerves] for our first game,” Soares said. “Everyone’s still figuring it out but the whole team was positive and upbeat the entire game. It was one of my better games, and I’m not exactly sure why. I guess we trained harder than I thought.”
Outside center Hayley Prudente – one of those fast, strong newcomers – scored two tries in the first quarter, and Occidental put up a try at the 30-minute mark. Lock Victoria Reyna added San Diego State’s third try before the half for the 15-5 edge.
Photo: Edwing Ulloa
No points were scored in the third quarter, but that time period was dense with action. Soares praised the versatility of San Diego State’s lineout but gave the edge in the scrums to Occidental. The defense worked well, although maintaining an even, fast launch is a work-on.
“We have an amazing fullback,” the flanker praised Kathleen Hodgetts. “She was a soccer player and is so strong and fast. She was really helpful on defense.”
Soares wants fitness to be better, too, but San Diego State was able to run in three tries in the final 15 minutes. No. 8 Stephanie Bouck dotted down twice, and then wing Kirsten Fletcher – a cross country runner who is also very fast and powerful – added the team’s fifth try. Hodgetts converted for the 37-5 final.
“That win boosted everyone’s confidence: Oh, we can do it,” Soares said. “Just because we’re new doesn’t mean anything. The work and time that you put in on and off the field are what matters.”
No one can attest to that statement more than Soares.
“This is a big benchmark for me – 100%,” the team president said of the first league game and first league win. “I’ve spent so much time and energy getting this team together. I’ve been so excited for something to happen and now it’s happened and I’m excited to keep going. It’s a lot of work and time, but people are starting to step up in the club and take on all the things we need to do, admin wise. It’s been hard, but to see this win – it’s all worth it.”
Aztec Recreation will evaluate the team at the end of the season, but Soares isn’t entirely sure what metrics will be considered for sport club status. Certainly a win or two will help the rugby team’s case, as will a committed coach and well organized league in which to participate. San Diego State will play Claremont Colleges (which won its season opener 74-31 against MiraCosta last weekend) this Saturday and then four more games through March 7.
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