The Mount Holyoke College Rugby Football team has had a fantastic fall season. The team ranked first in their conference tier after beating WPI in the Championship Playoff Game on October 29th. The team, led by head coach Julie LeGrand, assistant coach Carolyn Roach, and co-captains Julia Seiple and Jack Bennett de Paula, produced a 4-1 conference record, 5-2 overall record during their season.
As the team rose in their league rankings, their attendance numbers did as well. What once used to be a team that struggled to fill spots on the field now has enough players to field two winning teams.
Throughout this season the Rugby Board worked tirelessly to ensure success however they could. Members of the 2015-2016 board include Elisabeth Saylor, Julia Seiple, Jack De Paula, Erin Murdock, Eloise Nimocks, Lauren Floyd, Catherine Tremblay, and Abby Carroll. The team is also welcoming the newly elected 2016-2017 board, with new members Liz Tucksmith, Emma Beck, Basil Bartlett, Anna Stone, Alexis Helgeson, Ellie Viggiani, and Kerstin Lindgren, along with returning members Erin Murdock and Catherine Tremblay.
Mount Holyoke Rugby began their season on September 19th with a crushing loss to WPI, but the team came back in full force the following weekend, and celebrated a win against Wellesley College. On October 29th, Mount Holyoke Rugby was lucky enough to end their regular season with the defeat of WPI in the Playoff Game (31-14), but lost the hardfought New England Bowl Match against Plymouth State on November 19th. The final score was 42-7. The team's only try was scored by sophomore Liz Tucksmith. Mount Holyoke will be going on to compete in the Beast of the East Tournament in Providence, RI come April of 2017.
Mount Holyoke's Rugby season has officially ended for the semester but the team will resume practice once again following the winter break. More information about the Mount Holyoke Rugby team can be found on their website, https://mountholyokerugby.wordpress.com/ and on their facebook page , https://www.facebook.com/MHCRFC/
Story and photo courtesy of the MHC Rugby Team.
