Endicott College (Beverly, Mass.) is heading to the semifinals of the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) 15s National Championship and does so as the Northeast regional titleholder. The Colonial Coast champion has nearly a month to ready for the Dec. 7-8 fixtures at Life University (Marietta, Ga.), where the Gulls will face Mid-Atlantic champion Lee University of Tennessee.
Head coach Carly Baker is in year three with Endicott, joining in 2017 as an assistant coach and promoted to the lead role in fall 2018. The former Colby-Sawyer College flyhalf and captain leaned on a solid group of returners to prop up this year’s team, and an intense season-opener provided an early look at where the squad needed to focus energies.
“We’ve had several successful recruiting classes, which has been instrumental in providing the necessary depth to meet the demanding season and position our team for post-season play,” Baker surveyed the squad. “With 12 starting juniors, along with our two-time All American senior captain, Nicole McCardle, and flyhalf/kicker Kelsey Joyce, we have significant ‘on the field’ experience, which has been a major contributor to our success.”
That leadership was immediately called upon, as 2018 Colonial Coast champ Salve Regina University awaited in the teams’ season opener.
Photos courtesy Endicott Women’s Rugby Facebook (@EndicottWRUG)
“The first match against Salve Regina was important for providing intel mainly because we were able to get a sense of where our weaknesses and strengths reside,” Baker explained. “We were also excited about the match-up because we had lost to them in the previous final. This was our opportunity to come out and prove to ourselves that this was our year.”
Endicott took the first lead through prop Natalie Shambo, and then Salve Regina rallied with three-straight tries through Zoe Cockinos and Erin Gunther (2), who also kicked two conversions. Salve Regina led 19-5 into the break.
The Gulls used the first 10 minutes of the second half to engineer a lead change, sending centers Amanda Wisbeck and Amanda Poulin (2) across for three tries. With Joyce’s extras, the Massachusetts side led 26-19 by minute 50. Endicott only picked up tempo from there, as Poulin scored twice more and wing Shannon O’Malley added a five-pointer for a 45-26 lead that held until minute 77. Salve put Alexandra Harris and Cockinos away in the final two minutes of the game for a more respectable 45-38 final.
Endicott went on to win its next five league games 416-61 (excluding the Johnson & Wales forfeit win), and Salve Regina cruised through the Colonial Coast speed: 358-32 across five games. A month-and-a-half after their first meeting, the league leaders met for the conference championship on Nov. 3. The cadence of the scoring resembled that Sept. 15 match but the teams swapped roles.
Photos courtesy Endicott Women’s Rugby Facebook (@EndicottWRUG)
Endicott built a healthy 22-0 first-half lead, starting with a penalty try six minutes in, and then adding scores from Poulin and Wisbeck, and conversions and a penalty from Joyce. Salve Regina then rallied in the second half and put down three-straight converted tries to trail 22-21. The teams traded tries in the final quarter, with Endicott’s points coming through a second penalty try and Poulin, and the Gulls ended up 34-31. It was quite the reversal from last year’s conference championship, which Salve Regina won 63-14 before finishing third overall at nationals.
Last weekend, Endicott traveled to Schenectady, N.Y., for NSCRO’s Northeast Regional Championship alongside conference champions from Tri-State, Rugby Northeast and Upstate New York. In the Round of 16, the Gulls shut out Fordham 83-0. Joyce led all point-scorers with 26 on two tries and eight conversions, while Wisbeck (3) and Haley Goff (2) had multi-try days. Christi Chapman, Tiffany Dang, Laura Stump, Shambo, Poulin and O’Malley dotted down one try apiece.
On the other side of the bracket, Colgate University shut down Bentley 57-7. The Upstate New York team competes in a DII/NSCRO hybrid pool during the regular season and ended the fall as the top team across both classifications.
Photos courtesy Endicott Women’s Rugby Facebook (@EndicottWRUG)
The Northeast Regional Championship was another fantastic game, but Endicott was able to put O’Malley (2), championship MVP Wisbeck, Poulin and Stump away for tries, and Joyce’s conversion provided a 27-12 win. For Baker, it was the head coach’s first exposure to regional playoffs.
“As we continue to work on team-building and our technical skills, what I’m most proud of is the grit and tenacity of our team, as most recently displayed in the regional finals against Colgate,” the head coach praised. “The success of the team has been the result of each player providing unconditional support for their fellow team members. I think all of our rookies really stepped up this particular match.”
Endicott, Lee, Central champion MSU Moorhead, and reigning national champion Wayne State College will descend on Life University on Dec. 7-8. Saturday is the semifinals and Sunday for final places. Endicott and Lee face off on one side of the bracket, and Moorhead and Wayne State College in the other.
“This is the first time in program history that Endicott women’s rugby has reached the 15s final four,” Baker enthused. “As head coach it is very special to be leading a team who is so passionate and talented. They have worked hard and have dedicated themselves to this program. … Lee has a well established rugby program so this will be a great match-up.”
Live-stream information will be circulated once it’s available.