Friendly vs. College of Charleston

Last winter, UNCC faced the College of Charleston in the biggest battle of the Matrix season.  The team that won would go on to regionals, UNC-Charlotte barely scraped by with a 17-15 win.

Saturday College of Charleston travelled back to Charlotte to play a fall friendly game.  While the outcome did not matter as much as it had in the past, both teams wanted the win.  Charlotte fought hard and wouldn't allow any tries by CoC.  The final score 31-6, UNCC won by a much wider margin than 8 months ago.

MVP: Nicole Floersch

Pack Player of the Game: Victoria Ellis   Back Player of the Game: Dominique Williams

Defense Player of the Game: Maddy Clark Offense Player of the Game: Courtney Jessamy

vs. UNCG

When you put a lot of players in new positions, it can go very good, or very very bad.  Luckily when UNCC stepped on the field in Greensboro, they didn't care what position they were in, they were ready to play.

It took a few minutes for everyone to get their bearings, but 8 minutes into the game we used our assets and Meghan Sydney ran 50 yards to score the first try.  Minutes later scrumhalf Christina White was also able to score a try.  

Scrums were not our best, especially when the hookers from both teams had both feet on the ball - but we pushed through. We were able to get the ball out to the backline and Courtney Jessamy was able to score a try.  UNCG finally rallyed and used penalties to their advantage.  They were able to put up two tries before Meghan Sydney ran them down again for her second try. 22-10.

Communication made the game and Christina White was also able to score again.  UNCG came back for one last try making it 27-17 before Meghan Sydney put an end to it and ran in for another two tries.  In the last minutes of the game, the ball went to Liz Alliss in the backline and she ran for 40 yards.  5 yards from the tryline she started to go down but got the ball out to Courtney Jessamy for one last try.  Final Score 42-17.

Thank you UNCG for hosting us and providing a game everyone could enjoy.  Next week we play College of Charleston at home, it will be a tough one.  Come watch!

MVP: Victoria Ellis for being at everything offensive and defensively

Pack Player of the Game: Anjee McNary, for rocking a new position and pushing thru those rucks!

   Back Player of the Game: Meghan Sydney for making 4 tries.

Defense Player of the Game: Dominique Williams for making every tackle even when others missed.

Offense Player of the Game: Liz Alliss, for making runs up field in a new position.

Broken Curse

One would think a team as young as we are wouldn't have curses already, but that is the way Rucktoberfest feels.  Two years ago we went to Rucktoberfest as a rookie team and lost every game, but never expected much.  Last year we attended Rucktoberfest with a little more enthusiasm, but couldn't pull out a win (although later in the season, we came back and beat each team individually).  This year we had high hopes going in, until we saw our competition.

Competition is good for the soul.  Tough competition shows you where your faults are and what you need to work on.  Being the only division 2 team out of eight  in a tourney is a whole different level of competition.

Appalachian State, East Carolina University, James Madison University, NC State, University of South Carolina, and UVA (a & b side) all travelled to Boone NC to play in this year's Women Only Rucktoberfest Tournament.

The brackets were divided and we would be playing ECU, UVA, and NC State on Saturday. 

At 9:30 on Saturday morning we started with a little rain, some sleet, and a lot of snow.  ECU was quick to get on the scoreboard and were up 7-0 within the first 10 minutes.  Winning majority of the scrums, Christina White was able to get the ball to  flyhalf Dominique Williams who was able to then break through and score a try.  7-7.  Pouring snow makes for a lot of dropped balls and knock ons.   Scrumming is something both teams were good at, but hooker Maddy Clark won almost every one for UNCC.  Again off a scrum, an 8 man pick to the weak side by Liz Allis brought us our second try.  Unfortunately it was near touch so a kick in the sideways snow didn't make it.  7-12. In the last scrum of the game, again we

 won it, but the ball slipped right through our scrumhalf's hands providing opportunity for ECU's scrumhalf to pick up the ball.  ECU passed out quickly and was able to score a try and their kick, bring the final score 14-12.  A tough loss.

A two hour break gave us time to attempt to dry off, just so it could rain again.  At 12:30 we went up against UVA A-side.  UVA was ready and waiting to pound away at us.  With more experience in organization and communication, UVA had no problem putting up 5 tries to our none.

With a 10 minute break between the UVA game and NC State, we could not get our team back together.  NC State was able to use our exhaustion and defeat against us to put up 2 tries in the first half.  During the second half we finally started to play our game again, and fullback Nicole Floersch was able to score a try.  At that point it was too late as NC State was still able to put up another one.

Sunday brought clear skies and a new team to play.  The brackets were not just based on winners, but also points.  We started our morning playing USC at 11am.  Both sides were plagued with multiple injuries from the day before, but we were still able to put together a good team.  We decided to startover.  Play our game, knowing if we didn't get frustrated or over run, we could pull off a win.  The ladies just wanted it worse sunday morning.  Liz Alliss scored again from a substitution role at outside center.  Jessica James drove through and scored off a penalty. Meghan Bradsher was able to score from inside center.  The gamecocks were able to score two tries, but it just wasn't enough to take us out.  UNCC walked away with a win, and a chance to play for the third place title against ECU.

ECU- The same team we had lost by a kick to in the snow.  

At 1:30pm we took the field ready to play our hearts out.  We had finally won a game at rucktoberfest, and now we could even go for third!  ECU beat us to the scoreboard, 5-0.  But we quickly came back and drove up the field for a try by rookie Alex Spaugh.  5-7

ECU was not going to go down easy and snuck around the outside for another try.  We decided to mimic their try with one of our own by wing Raelyn Jehlik.  Score 10-12.  In the end ECU was able to put up one last try in the last 3 minutes of the game bringing the final score 15-12.

While we have always lost at rucktoberfest, the competition was fiercer this year than it has ever been.  Thank you to all the teams that went and to AHO for hosting.  We are grateful our curse is broken, and we will be back next year.

Alumnae Day

Thank you to all the alumnae who came out in support of Saturday's game.  It was a quick game as UNCC had three to play on Saturday.

The current team was slow to react at first, letting the alumnae score early on.  Alumnae thought they were set, when the current team remembered how to communicate and came back to score two more tries.  A learning game for rookies, everyone had a great time and all came out winners.

T-shirts supporting UNCC Women's Rugby are still on sale if you missed yours. They are $12.00 each (XXL are $15.00) with all proceeds going to the team.  Contact Murphy if you want one by email. 

UNCC vs. Chapel Hill

In college rugby, the fall is used to train new players and the season is set by the individual teams.  The first game of the fall is supposed to be against an easy team so you can teach your rookies without a lot of pressure.  Unfortunately - or fortunately - depending on your view,  no one easy wanted to play us early in the fall.  UNC-Chapel Hill was the only team willing to take us on.  

Chapel Hill is a D1, top eight school.  We are top eight, but in D2.  We knew on the first day of practice that we would have our work cut out for us.

Chapel Hill brought 46 players to our 26 and the game was set with 4 20minute quarters.  The goal of both teams was to have a scrimmage where everyone could play.  Mean Green wanted to teach not only the rookies, but Carolina that we are as good as they are.

The first quarter started off as a show down, UNCC scored two tries off the backline, but wasn't able to make the kicks.  UNCC dominated both the lineouts and the scrums, making it easy to pass the ball off to the backline.  Carolina was good on the tackle, and quick to poach the ball long before a ruck could be set.  Carolina quickly put in two more tries, and made their kicks!  Carolina was up, but not for long.  UNCC got it together and started to communicate on the field. We turned the game around with three more tries to win the game 27-14!

MVP: Maddy Clark, for keeping her cool and leading the team

Pack Player of the Game: Anjee McNary, for all the tackles & runs

   Back Player of the Game: Rise Shine, for playing every position, making every tackle, and those runs!

Defense Player of the Game: Jessica James for being at every ruck and taking those down who needed it.

Offense Player of the Game: Meghan Bradsher, for communication and the amazing runs.

 

Thank you to the Charlotte Men for hosting our game and Carolina for traveling to play us!

The Season has Arrived

It's that time of year again to brush off your cleats and head out to the pitch.  New members and old will begin with the basics and progress into being the best athlete's we can be.  This is going to be the greatest, hard hitting year UNCC's ever seen!  Last year, with it being our first competing year, we made our mark at national's landing us in the top 10 of the nation, and this year we're aiming for the #1 spot.  So if you're ready for hard work and dedication, as well as meeting new people who will become family , come on out to the practice fields starting August 30th from 6-8pm.  Don't forget your mouthguard!

Practice(Beginning August 30th):Every Tuesday and Thursday from  6-8pm 

Location: New Rec fields on John Kirk 

Come Play With Us

All summer long we will have a booth at SOAR recruiting incoming freshman to come play for us.  

But you don't have to be a freshman to play, you don't even have to have experience.  All you need is a desire to play a full contact sport with an amazing group of friends.  We will teach you everything else.

Look around, see what we've accomplished, what we plan to do.  If you have any questions, please email us!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

There was fun done! There were points to be scored.  There were games to be won. And the magical things they did with that ball made them the winningest winners of all!

As our second year comes to a close, we say good-bye to some great players.   Each of the seniors spent many hours away from their books and on the pitch practicing, playing, and sharing their love of rugby with others. Three of our graduating seniors were a part of the original 5 that brought rugby back to UNCC. They will always be a huge part of the team's history. From the entire team, we congratulate you on your graduation and wish you the best of luck in the future.  Each of you will be missed and we hope to see you all when you come back to visit!

April Simmons

Natalie Ricketts

Ali Borzotta

Susan Behrooz

Erin Leonetti

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)  LADIES, You'll move mountains!

words quoted (and altered) from Dr. Seuss

Awards

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM!  Club Sport of the Year is a disinguished honor given by UNCC to one club sport.  Women's Rugby won this honor for 2010-2011!

UNCC Women's Rugby won Outstanding Student Organization Web Presence at the Student Organization awards.

Thank you Erin Leonetti, webmaster, for all of your hard work on the website design and upkeep!

Season Ends in Elite 8

It has been a long, hard road this year, but the team ended their season as a part of the Elite 8 in the Nation.

Washington State University forfeited the Sweet 16 game, giving UNCC a leg up.  On Sunday April 17, we played Stonehill University in a battle for the final four.  Stonehill has been to Nationals three times in three years and their experience showed.  The game was much quicker than what we are used to.  While we held Stonehill 10-0 in the first half, their speed of game ran us over in the second half. 

It has been said before, but to reiterate, making it to Nationals in your first matrix season, and only your second year over all is amazing.  To go out and play a team with more depth and experience is hard, and provided a great learning experience.  Every lady played a great game, and came off the field wanting more.  Our goal was to make it to Nationals this year, we succeeded!  Next year our goal is the final four.  

Thank you to all who supported our team this year!