“If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. “ It is an age-old motif that is heard throughout nearly every realm of Disney made-for-TV movies and children’s books around the kindergarten circuit. But at Quinnipiac, it takes on both a literal and metaphorical meaning in the form of sports.
The Bobcats’ women’s rugby squad resonates this theme. In only its third season as a recognized Division I team, rugby has found itself among the best teams in the nation. Last season, Becky Carlson’s group serviced a 15-1 record, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Winona State in the National Semifinal held in California. In a home match against Hofstra, they shutout the opposition while simultaneously posting 130 points.
In a literal sense: They try.
But the run towards success has not been easy. Carlson’s first season at the helm, the program’s first, was full of doubt and skepticism from critics. The team only picked up three wins and consisted primarily of former multi-sport athletes turned rugby players. They were an island of misfit toys, with no promise of them ever being the one that turned up under the tree on Christmas morning.
Two years later, the team, now consisting of some of the best rugby players in the nation, has an opportunity to put Quinnipiac on the map. This is a unique opportunity that most other teams at the university don’t have, especially due to the niche of the sport itself. Currently, there are only seven varsity level Division I women’s rugby squads in the country. As a sport begins to emerge on the national scene, it is imperative that there is a team that can provide an intriguing and solidified identity for the sport.
What better school to become the face of a sport than a school looking to make a splash on the national scene in other areas of athletics, as well? There is undoubtedly an appeal with Quinnipiac’s demographics. Located between New York and Boston, it has the natural promotional billing for an up-and-coming Division I prowess. The large ratio of females to males at the school led to the new Title IX agreement this past summer, which will ensure that women’s rugby is a mainstay piece of importance for the Quinnipiac Bobcats program now and for years to come.
With all of that said, now is the time for this squad to prove whether it can accomplish this feat and set a precedent. The 2013 campaign started rocky for Carlson’s warriors, but a new conference and new depth chart provide the opportunity for growth and emergence. Challenges on the national level remain ahead for her team, but with a plethora of youth and talent on board, it will be interesting to see the next few years unfold. Will they establish the national identity that Quinnipiac strives for?
Seems like they’ll just have to try.
