Photo Courtesy of QU Athletics
By Giovanni Mio
It was only a couple years ago when the women’s rugby team at Quinnipiac University declared themselves an official Division I program. Since 2011, the team has appeared in two straight ARCA National Tournament Quarterfinals and finished last year on a six game winning streak. But entering the 2014 season, Quinnipiac has one of the toughest schedules in the country.
“Our schedule, without question is one of the most competitive in the country,” women’s rugby head coach Becky Carlson said. “As more athletic departments continue to add varsity programs, we are excited to continue to be a leader in women’s rugby at the collegiate level by facing our fellow NCAA opponents for the 2014-15 season.”
Their first real test is against Army at home on September 6. The Midshipmen advanced to the National Championship Playoffs in 2013, defeating Princeton but losing to Norwich in the next round. The Cadets are another game to watch out for. Norwich went on to win the ARCA National Tournament over Rutgers to complete a perfect season, with three championships and a 27-0 in 7s competition. Junior Emily Colesworthy will be someone to watch out for on the side of the Cadets. She won last year’s Tournament MVP.
While Army and Norwich are two good matchups, another solid matchup on this schedule is Oct. 18 against Eastern Illinois. Carlson is an alumnus of Eastern Illinois, but the Panthers are coming off a 2-6 season, which included a five game losing streak to start the year, but ending on a high note with a two game winning streak. Eastern Illinois has a ton of young talent that could be ready to make the leap next season, so last year’s record shouldn’t be taken that seriously.
One of the reasons the women’s rugby team received a pretty tough schedule is how they’ve dominated their opponents. In their inaugural season as a Division I program, Quinnipiac went 15-1, which started with a 2-1 win against Eastern Illinois. The Bobcats played a ton of clubs and destroyed them, including a 94-0 win against New Paltz and a 130-0 victory against the Hofstra Pride. Last season, Quinnipiac went 10-3 and outscored their opponents 567-200.
Even with a tough schedule, Quinnipiac is prime to have another solid season. One of their returning players, sophomore winger Natalie Kosko, was the 2013 Rugby Magazine’s U20 Player of the Year. She’s also a two-time All American. With Carlson leading the charge for another year, this team looks to continue to build a reputation as one of the best women’s rugby teams in the country.
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