It’s safe to assume that New England’s Division II teams are unfamiliar with “gimme” games. The league routinely produces single-digit decisions each week, as has done so for years, keeping the intensity at a premium. Worcester is entering a bye after four-straight weeks, and four-straight wins, and is the only undefeated team remaining.
Laura Hetherman and Katie Stocking captain a team that has returned many players from last year’s squad, which finished runner-up to Providence in the Atlantic North. Some veterans have more than a decade’s worth of experience and are invested in acclimating the swell of newcomers.
“It’s a special time for the Shamrocks,” Worcester head coach Tran Nguyen said of a squad that numbers in the mid-30s. “Everyone’s just jiving and grooving really well.”
Nguyen adjusted as a coach as well. In March 2019, Nguyen traveled to England as one of 30 Premiership Rugby Scholarship winners (read more) and returned with new perspective and new resources.
“I applied for the scholarship to go over there and learn from their coaches and trainers and players in an all-immersive learning environment. I learned from the other American coaches, too, and we’ve kept that network going,” Nguyen said. “For me, I’ve learned to slow things down so that all of the Shamrocks know their skills, and that we’re going over them before moving forward. So that’s one thing that’s been different: more patience with allowing things to develop instead of rushing through things. Make sure things are done efficiently and properly.”
That deliberate process encountered some challenges as the West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) viruses were detected in Worcester, among other cities and counties. The team’s field closed and flood lights prohibited, so the team had to travel 25 minutes away from their regular training pitch and rented a smaller indoor space from 8-10 p.m. It’s required more flexibility and fortitude, but everyone keeps showing up.
Worcester began the season on Sept. 7 against Albany, which had dropped down from Division I, and banked a 26-5 win. The Massachusetts team followed with wins over Charles River (38-12) and Portland (31-20), before facing then-undefeated Burlington.
“Their pack has always been strong. It’s one we always prepare our scrums for and we put in a little more practice to strengthen ours,” Stocking said of Burlington’s attributes. “And they were super quick off the defensive line. For us, it was adapting to the ruck style – being aggressive and efficient on the ball, and adjusting our communication to get to the rucks quickly.”
Worcester outscored Burlington 17-12 in the first half, and then battled for momentum in the second half. As the final 40 waged on, Worcester emptied its bench and Hetherman credited those impact players with the second-half shutout. The Shamrocks won 17-12, while Burlington banked the bonus point in the loss.
Nguyen highlighted strengths from all four opponents thus far and how they challenged Worcester is different ways. That variety of competition is ever-shifting, and it’s taught the Shamrocks to never form expectations.
“If we anticipate a certain type of style or prepare in a certain way for any team, then that’s what we’ll be focused on,” Nguyen said. “We’ve learned from our past. Our greatest teacher is our failures and shortcomings, and we’ve come away with a lot of lessons. Everything changes from season to season, so you can’t make assumptions about any team or you’re setting yourself up to be disappointed.”
The team is also working on its mental game, playing relaxed and staying positive.
“Sometime we hold ourselves back and can be our own worst enemies, but when we break those barriers, the sky’s the limit,” Hetherman said. “We’re a very adaptable team and we know what we need to do to win or hit our goals.”
“We try to be as aware as we can, personally and as a team,” Stocking explained strategies for staying positive. “What’s special with our team is that we’re constantly each other’s best cheerleader. We know everyone can be their own worst critic but we try to be everyone’s cheerleader.”
Worcester enjoys a well deserved bye this weekend and then finishes the regular season with Providence (2-1) and Hartford (1-2) and a friendly against DIII Amoskeag. The top-four teams then contest the New England championship on Nov. 2-3. The two NERFU finalists meet the Empire finalists in the Atlantic North final four in April 2020.
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