Women's rugby attracts attention

By Margo Consul

The Santa Clara women's club rugby team is making a name for themselves within the sport, while the game continues to gain popularity throughout the campus.

The team competed in the playoffs this past weekend, which marked their first appearance in the event for the entirety of the program's history.

In 2001, the team was unable to compete because of lack of funding; this year, however, it was a different story.

With all necessary measures taken care of, the Broncos were able to make, and participate in, their first playoff debut and the team members are more than thankful for that opportunity.

Santa Clara travelled to Provo, Utah to experience the playoffs first-hand.

"This season was pretty damn impressive especially since we started the season with about seven people returning," Club President Brianna Osetinksky said. "The girls really stepped up. There are 21 girls on the roster and we started with 7. The fact that were able to bring 14 girls up to playoff speed in that many months is impressive."

Although the team lost to No. 11 Western Washington University this past weekend by a score of 32-8, they were still proud of their performance.

"The score wasn't that great as far as the game is concerned. It wasn't what we were looking for, but the team played one of the best games they ever played," added Louise O'Rourke. "On the one hand, losing to them is a real bummer because we wanted to advance, but in that way I think the team really played up to their level."

Santa Clara had a solid season, finishing fifth in the Pacific Coast Division rankings with a season record of 3-2 and an overall record of 4-5.

But winning and losing is not the primary focus within the group; it's the camaraderie that is formed amongst the team and the surrounding community.

"One of the jokes we used to make, especially when we started, was this is a sorority that hits each other," O'Rourke said. "(It) sounds a little strange, but we have a whole system set up where we have bigs and littles and all that kind of thing. So it really is a good sense of community and I think that is what has made it able to grow. People get really hooked and they stick around and keep playing."

Osentinsky agrees that the team's togetherness allows them to perform at a higher level.

"There is a lot of tradition with everything we do too, which sets the tone that you are a part of something bigger than yourself," she added.

Santa Clara established the women's rugby club team in 1997 and plays in the DII club level against teams in the western region, including Stanford, University of California Santa Cruz and Humbolt State.

Contact Margo Consul at mconsul@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918.