Rugby prepares for spot at nationals

A couple feet of snow is not going to stop the women's rugby team from preparing for its "toughest challenge" this season: playing in the nationals.

"We do our best given the weather restrictions we have in Vermont, it's tough to prepare for an outdoor sport," said Head Coach Austin Hall. "But we work hard, what I really like is the traditional push-my-car-to-rugby-pitch-and-back run, which is a great motivational workout."

After going undefeated in its conference last fall and winning the northeast championship for the second year in a row, the Cadets look to take their talents to Florida in April and win the Super Sixteen and continue on to Pittsburgh for the Final Four.

"We did pretty well this year in our conference, winning back-to-back championships," said Katie Gingras, a 20-year-old junior from Wethersfield, Conn., majoring in psychology. "But our ultimate goal is to win nationals."

Last year the team won the first two games in the nationals, winning the round of 16 and the round of eight, and lost in the semi-finals to Washington State 15-5, according to Hall.

"I was proud of our team this year; but for the upperclassmen, we never forget what happened in the past," said Katie Hathaway, a 21-year-old from Amesbury, Mass., majoring in political science. "Losing in the nationals last year really hit us, we kind of used that as motivation going into the nationals this year."

With the season starting on Feb. 1, the team has not done much rugby training because of the weather besides team workouts at Plumley, according to Gingras.

"It's very tough right now, with two feet of snow on the ground. We're doing everything we can to stay in shape," said Hall. "Especially on our core and foundation fitness."

With the majority of the team returning and new players trying out, practices will be more competitive and exciting.

"There's always some new players who join in the spring and bring some new excitement," said Hall. "They force the players who think they have a spot to reconsider and up their game."

As the nationals are right around corner, the rugby team continues to build chemistry on the pitch.

"Once we make ourselves whole and fill in the gaps and continue to go hard in our workouts and practices," said Gingras, "we should be ready for nationals and come back successful."