The Midwest officially begins its women’s club 15s season this weekend, as six teams in the DII East Conference compete in the region’s first league matches. The Midwest contests its entire 15s season in the fall, naming DI and DII champions in November before sending representatives to nationwide playoffs in the spring. While that set-up has remained the same, the Midwest has adjusted some of its structure to add flexibility into the schedule.
RELATED: Fixtures & Results: Sept. 1-5
The DII Western Conference remains the same in terms of pools (2) and playoff structure, but DI and the DII Eastern Conference have reconfigured. Since four of the five DI teams are in the western portion of the region, a hybrid pool has been introduced into the Eastern Conference. DI Detroit is now competing with traditionally stronger DII teams Buffalo, Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh Forge during the regular season. The victor will move onto the DI playoffs and rejoin the four teams in the west, and a play-in match will pull the best team out of the two other DII East pools for the conference’s semifinals. (More detail at end of article.)
“We weren’t pushing for that by any means, but it was presented to us because Detroit is the only DI team in the East Conference,” Detroit head coach Shaunna Mancini said. “The cons are we don’t get to face the same teams that we have faced in the past, which are the same level as us, but at same time we are facing some historically really good teams – like Pittsburgh, which has won a number of DII national championships.
“Everyone is in the same boat,” the former Detroit No. 8 continued. “Everyone has been impacted by Covid so we’re starting from an equal playing field. I anticipate that other DI teams are feeling the same things that we have felt, where we haven’t worked together in a while, we’re getting back into it, and maybe it’ll click right away or maybe it’ll take some time to remember what it feels like again. So the big pro for us is we have the opportunity to work things out before we see our normal competition [in the DI playoffs].”
Note, however, that a DII team could advance to the DI playoffs if it wins the Hybrid league.
Mancini took over as head coach this summer and the team started with basics-oriented training in mid-July. The squad, which numbers just shy of 30 players, is mostly returners but also experienced players who are new to the city as well as crossover athletes eager to run around.
“The vibe on the team is comparable to when I would play,” Mancini said. “It’s really a family-type atmosphere. Everyone is really excited and happy to be back and playing. Even the new players – it’s a great opportunity for them to just get out and do something and be part of a club and sport where the atmosphere is so positive.”
Pre-season began in August, and then last weekend, Detroit played the Grand Rapids Growlers – which competes in the DII East C “South” – in a 15s scrimmage. It was a brutally hot day, but a good opportunity to gauge capabilities and work a deep roster through different combinations.
“Being out of the game for almost two years now, of course there’s going to be some dust to brush off, but honestly we brought it together quite quickly,” Mancini said. “Even the new players worked in pretty seamlessly. I was really surprised and impressed how everyone clicked together from the get-go. There was some itching for that very first hit and then it was, ‘O.K., now I’m in it.’”
Detroit won 25-10. Flanker Sam Taylordean was named Forward of the Match, scrumhalf Elvira Moreno the Back of the Match, and wing Kirsten Nielsen was deemed Rookie of the Match.
“Brooke Schraffenberger is one captain and we’ve definitely been leaning heavy on her,” Mancini called out the No. 8, who is also vice president of Detroit RFC and assistant commissioner for the Great Lakes Women’s Rugby Conference. “She’s been very integral as far as keeping the team going and keeping the women’s side of the club alive during Covid. She’s done an amazing job, and organization wise – on and off the field – we’ve relied on her heavily.”
The coach also highlighted fellow captain and prop Amy Jedele, who helped position Detroit for a solid return to the pitch and optimistic start to the season.
Detroit plays its first regular-season match on Sept. 11, which is the big opening weekend for many collegiate and club leagues. It’s a road trip to Pittsburgh Forge.
“After Covid, we all have to see where we’re at,” Mancini said of team objectives this year. “Winning is great and that’s end goal, but in order to make that happen we have to focus on working together and gelling together as a unit, especially with new faces coming in and everyone being out so long. So it’s two-fold: If we can focus on building team camaraderie and figuring out how to work together and play off each well, then the result will be winning matches.”
The Hybrid pool and all of the Western Conference is off for Labor Day Weekend, but there are three games occurring in the Eastern Conference this Saturday. In the DII East B “North” Cleveland is traveling to Akron, and North Buffalo heads to South Buffalo for their season openers. In the DII East C “South” Dayton plays in Fort Wayne (and Grand Rapids and Lexington rescheduled their game for Oct. 2).
Stay tuned for updates.
MIDWEST BREAKDOWN
DIVISION I
WEST: Chicago, Chicago Lions, Minnesota Valkyries, Wisconsin
PLAYOFFS
Nov. 6: Semifinals
West #3 @ West #1
West #2 v East #1* (winner of Hybrid pool)
*Game hosted by higher-ranked team
Nov. 13: Midwest Championship
DIVISION II
WEST A (“North”): Milwaukee Scylla, Minneapolis, Palmer College, Twin Cities
WEST B (“CARFU”): Chicago Sirens, County Will, Fox Valley, Illiana, Oconomowoc
DI/II EAST A (“Hybrid”): Buffalo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Pittsburgh
EAST B (“North”): Akron, Cleveland, North Buffalo, South Buffalo
EAST C (“South”): Dayton, Fort Wayne, Lexington, Grand Rapids
PLAYOFFS
Oct. 23 East Play-in:
East B #1 vs. East C #1
(This game is necessary because East A, or “Hybrid,” has grouped the traditionally stronger DII teams into one pool, so all but the last-place Hybrid team will advance to playoffs)
Oct. 30 Quarterfinals
West A #2 @ West B #1
West B #2 @ West A #1
East Play-in winner @ East A #2 (East A #1 @ DI playoffs)
East A #4 @ East A #3
Nov. 6: Semifinals
West winners play each other @ higher seed
East winners play each other @ higher seed
Nov. 13: Championship
West vs. East conference winners