AMHERST, Mass. – The Plymouth State University Women’s Rugby team will be adding another chapter to their successful season, sweeping the D2 Northeast Regionals at UMass-Amherst to advance to the National Championships next Spring.
Plymouth played two games in the weekend tournament, where Saturday’s winners would earn automatic bids in the Nationals. PSU clinched with a 27-15 victory over SUNY-Fredonia, then upset Northeastern 22-10 to claim the D2 Northeast title and a top seed in the next stage.
The Nationals berth is a huge step for the women’s rugby team. Plymouth went into the Regionals undefeated last season, but was ousted from contention by eventual National Champion Providence, cutting their dominant campaign short. PSU not only returned to reach the Nationals this time around, but also will represent the D2 Northeast as its champion. They earned the right after turning the tables on Northeastern on Sunday, dropping the Huskies to the runner-up after being shut out at home a week before.
Plymouth beat several obstacles in their road to the Nationals. They overcame injuries, poor weather, stiff competition and their loss to Northeastern that dealt them a tighter race on the road, facing both top-ranked representatives in the final stage of the Regionals. Plymouth succeeded in knocking off both teams, combining skill that helped them plow through the competition all year and a determination priceless in the rough-and-tumble of rugby.
Ashley “Jack” Daniels is just one of the many Plymouth players to define that determination. Not even a broken finger suffered during Sunday’s game against Northeastern kept her from playing, as she went on to block a kick and score the final try of the game. Daniels’ injury was just one of many Plymouth State endured in through the season, but last weekend ensured their reward was well worth the pain.
Leading the way for Plymouth State in their 2005 campaign were Captains Krystina Hajduczek (forwards) and Kelly Williams (backs), while former captains Ashley Hokanson and Courtney Brackett returned for their senior years. A total of ten seniors contributed to Plymouth’s run this season, and hope to end their college careers with a national title when play resumes in the spring. Until then, Plymouth State will continue with indoor training, making the best of the next five months to prepare for the challenge ahead.
The D2 Women’s Rugby Nationals will be held in April 2006, with a total of eight teams representing the country’s best competition. The two-week tourney will begin in California, with the winners advancing to the semifinal and title games in Florida the following week.