Photo by: Greg Vasil
Women's Rugby Season Preview
8/28/2024 4:09:00 PM | Women's Rugby
SHU Rugby opens the season on Saturday
FAIRFIELD, Conn.-- Fresh off a historic campaign last year, the Sacred Heart University women's rugby team is ready to build off its recent success and continue to elevate the program. The Pioneers have the largest roster in program history, with 33 players, including 14 newcomers. Avonlea Wood, Makena Wright, and Alyssa Cunningham were named captains to lead the team in 2024.
Last year, the Pioneers made their first National Intercollegiate Ruby Association (NIRA) postseason appearance after finishing with a 5-1 conference record. SHU was the fourth seed and took on the number one seed, Harvard, on the road in the semifinal game, wrapping up the fall portion of the season.
Sacred Heart had five 7s tournaments in the spring, going 14-9 overall. The Pioneers won the plate trophy in the CRAA Women's Collegiate 7's Championship Tournament for fifth place overall, the best finish in program history at the CRAA Championship.
Cunningham, Ashley Torres-Brown, and Reese Torticill were placed on All-NIRA teams following the fall season. Cunningham was named to the first XV for the second straight season. Torres-Brown brought in her first All-NIRA recognition, earning a spot on the second XV. In her first season with the Pios, Torticill was named to the All-NIRA honorable mention team.
The Pioneers have an eight-game fall schedule, starting on the road on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Princeton at 1 pm. SHU will have its home opener against Harvard on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7 pm during the team's annual Mental Health Awareness game. The team will have back-to-back road games on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 at Mount St. Mary's and Dartmouth, respectively. The Pioneers will return home for a Friday night game against Army at 7 pm for the team's alumni day before heading out to Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 13 at 11 am CST. Sacred Heart will wrap up the regular season with two straight home games, first with Navy on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 am, followed by senior day on Saturday, Nov. 2, against Quinnipiac at 11 am. Postseason begins on Saturday, Nov. 16, and the championship finals will be Nov. 23.
Head Coach Michelle Reed has an incoming class of 14 to add to the depth of the returning group. The incoming class has seen high-level success in their high school careers. There are serval state champions among the group as well as plenty of players with success at the club level. Along with the newcomer's success, over the summer, Torres-Brown and Reece Woods played on the USA Rugby U20 team for the Transatlantic Quad Series in Cardiff, Wales.
"After a successful preseason welcoming and integrating our new Pioneers into the program, we are excited to take on the fall season," said Head Coach Michelle Reed. "There is a lot of potential this fall with the solid foundation we have in our returners combined with the mindset and experience of the incoming class. We will be able to expand on our offensive strategies while continuing to display an aggressive and resilient defense. Of course, all of this stems from our culture and continuing to cultivate a people-first environment."
Last year, the Pioneers made their first National Intercollegiate Ruby Association (NIRA) postseason appearance after finishing with a 5-1 conference record. SHU was the fourth seed and took on the number one seed, Harvard, on the road in the semifinal game, wrapping up the fall portion of the season.
Sacred Heart had five 7s tournaments in the spring, going 14-9 overall. The Pioneers won the plate trophy in the CRAA Women's Collegiate 7's Championship Tournament for fifth place overall, the best finish in program history at the CRAA Championship.
Cunningham, Ashley Torres-Brown, and Reese Torticill were placed on All-NIRA teams following the fall season. Cunningham was named to the first XV for the second straight season. Torres-Brown brought in her first All-NIRA recognition, earning a spot on the second XV. In her first season with the Pios, Torticill was named to the All-NIRA honorable mention team.
The Pioneers have an eight-game fall schedule, starting on the road on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Princeton at 1 pm. SHU will have its home opener against Harvard on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7 pm during the team's annual Mental Health Awareness game. The team will have back-to-back road games on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 at Mount St. Mary's and Dartmouth, respectively. The Pioneers will return home for a Friday night game against Army at 7 pm for the team's alumni day before heading out to Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 13 at 11 am CST. Sacred Heart will wrap up the regular season with two straight home games, first with Navy on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 am, followed by senior day on Saturday, Nov. 2, against Quinnipiac at 11 am. Postseason begins on Saturday, Nov. 16, and the championship finals will be Nov. 23.
Head Coach Michelle Reed has an incoming class of 14 to add to the depth of the returning group. The incoming class has seen high-level success in their high school careers. There are serval state champions among the group as well as plenty of players with success at the club level. Along with the newcomer's success, over the summer, Torres-Brown and Reece Woods played on the USA Rugby U20 team for the Transatlantic Quad Series in Cardiff, Wales.
"After a successful preseason welcoming and integrating our new Pioneers into the program, we are excited to take on the fall season," said Head Coach Michelle Reed. "There is a lot of potential this fall with the solid foundation we have in our returners combined with the mindset and experience of the incoming class. We will be able to expand on our offensive strategies while continuing to display an aggressive and resilient defense. Of course, all of this stems from our culture and continuing to cultivate a people-first environment."
Players Mentioned
Fly Half/FB
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8
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Center/Wing
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Flanker
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Loose Head Prop/Tight Head Prop
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Flanker
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