By Jonathan Sawyer
Assistant Sports Editor
Heading to the playoffs for it’s second straight year, the St. Bonaventure women’s rugby team looks to continue its success in a match-up against Union College in the first round of the playoffs Saturday.
This matchup will challenge the team, players said.
“Union is undefeated in the regular season, so we know that this is going to be a tough and close game. We’re going to need to play our best in order to make it to the next round,” senior Captain Carley Doyle said.
Returning to the playoffs as last year’s state champions, senior Captain Rachel Noone knows that teams will aim to stop the Bonnies from repeating as champs.
“It is also very nerve-wrecking because we have something to prove,” Noone said. “Last year, there weren’t many expectations but this year we are coming in as current champions so the expectations are greater.”
Going into this game with good confidence and a good mindset will help the Bonnies play a competitive game, and will be essential for success, players said.
“Everyone knows the goal: to win,” Noone said. “We all make sure to keep each other in check, and if someone starts to lose focus, someone is there reminding them of what we are trying to achieve.”
If the Bonnies get past the state playoffs, they will move on to regionals, which they will host this year. Knowing that it would be an advantage if they were able to play at home, they are working even harder, Noone said.
“We really have to focus in all of our practices,” Noone said. “Last week we added morning practices of conditioning so that in the afternoons we could focus more on what we need to improve on in our game.”
Doyle said she believes that playing their best and staying in every game is what the Bonnie’s will have to do in order to take the win this weekend.
“In order to make regionals, we are going to have to play our best rugby of the season this weekend,” Doyle said. “We are going to have to stay mentally focused and play an aggressive game.”
Watching regionals from the stands is not what the Bonnie’s want to see happen said Noone.
“It makes us want to try that much harder to win this weekend,” Noone said. “None of us want to have to watch one of our opponents win on our field, even if we aren’t playing on it.”
The Bonnies will go on the road to Henrietta to play Union College this Saturday at noon in the first round of the playoffs.
sawyerjp15@bonaventure.edu
