All teams have transitions, and the University of Minnesota is no different. The Division I Midwest powerhouse saw some important players graduate last season, new coaches have joined the staff, and a new, tough competitor has joined the league. Nevertheless, it’s business as usual up in Minneapolis, and the fall post-season is very much on the list of goals.
Former head coach Rebecca Radtke transferred to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) Twin Cities this season, but there’s good continuity in the new staff. Alli Gillberg is still on board and former Amazons head coach Roger Bruggemeyer has joined as well. Mikayla Miller, also of the Amazons breed, is the new head coach.
“This fall, this team of three has worked well for us. We plan to stick around for the next for the next few years, and we’re excited about the group of players we have right now,” Miller said.
Miller indicated that the team does run younger this year, but there is solid talent in the returning group. Senior Brooke Doerscher sets the example as captain, and Miller hopes to see flanker in the senior club ranks after graduation.
“Balance is really important for us,” Miller surveyed the forward and back units. “The experience is spread across the board and it’s helped us maintain consistency in our performance. It also makes it easier to plug in the new talent when you have a mature, stable system already in place.”
Doerscher and props Josie Rogers and Geneva Nunes lead the pack, and the back line has quality returners in Kristin Tanner, Grace Bryson, Emma Henning, Lilly McLaughlin and Megan Navratil.
“And then we’re really excited about a freshman in the back line: Emily Johnston,” Miller said. “She played high school rugby locally and has been one of our top point scorers.”
It all started coming together at the All-Minnesota pre-season tournament, and the Gophers advanced to the final before falling to Winona State. The Black Katts are competing in the DI Midwest during the regular season and then will reroute to Division II Northern Lights for the post-season. It was a necessary move for Winona State, which otherwise endures a jarring amount of forfeits during the DII season.
“I can’t speak for the rest of the league, but we were excited for them to join the league and more competition. They’ve been a wildly competitive club, even when I was at the university,” Miller reflected on the past decade. “It’s only fun for a while – going up 60, 90 points and not necessarily being challenged in the game. We can build in challenges for ourselves, but it’s much easier for a coach when the challenge comes from the opposition.”
After a forfeit win against Iowa State, Minnesota beat Wisconsin and Northern Illinois by a combined 154-17.
“The attack got a lot of practice, but we didn’t play a lot of defense, and that hurt us against Winona,” Miller reflected on last Saturday’s match. “Winona challenged us in physicality and in the scrum, and pressured us in the backs. And we were relatively unprepared for their kicking game.”
Winona No. 8 Makayla Leraas scored four minutes into the game, but then back-to-back tries from Bryson and Doerscher gave the visitors a 10-5 for approximately 15 minutes. Black Katt prop Madelyn Rabideau, scrumhalf Caitlyn Deetz and outside center Abigail Andler scored second-half tries, and Emily Becker’s conversion afforded the 22-10 win to Winona.
“They’re disappointed any time the result doesn’t work in our favor but we talked a bit about it [Monday]: What do you want to take away from an experience like that where you’re challenged,” Miller said of silver linings. “So our goals this week is to maintain a level of consistency and intensity at training, and make sure everyone steps up and does their job.”
Minnesota will put those lessons to work against Iowa and Northern Iowa to finish the regular season. The Gophers have represented the Midwest at regional playoffs for years, and the team has advanced as far as the fall semifinal round in recent history.
“I don’t know what the difference-maker is, or what will make us take the next bump up, but we’ll take one week at a time and focus on what we can control,” Miller said. “Every day we remind them: You’re in charge of your attitude and your reaction. Give it your all and worry about next week when it comes.
“But I’d be lying if I said we weren’t thinking about the post-season,” the coach added. “We want to get on the national stage. We have a lot of talent and want to represent Minnesota and remind the country that this is a competitive place for rugby, and it has been for a long time.”
Click here for the DI Midwest schedule, results and standings.