By Sarah DeWolfe | Staff Writer
It’s been quite the ride for the Salve Men’s Rugby team since they clinched another NSCRO 15s Final Four appearance back in November, and that ride finally continues this weekend as the Seahawks fly to Marietta, Georgia to fight for what could be a second national title in program history.
The Seahawks were recently ranked #2 out of the 240 NSCRO teams in the country, which comes as no surprise thanks to their 12-1 record this season as well as being the 2017 undefeated CCC Champions. The team will leave from Rodgers on Thursday April 26th and make the journey South where they will get right down to business. The two semi-final matches will take place Friday evening, with Loyola University Maryland playing Iowa Central Community College at 6 pm and Salve Regina taking on the defending National Champions The Claremont Colleges at 8 pm. If they win, Salve will play again at 12pm on Sunday in the Championship match. If not, they will play for third place at 10am.
The team dusted off their boots last weekend in the annual Beast of the East Tournament held in Portsmouth, RI where they looked to defend their title from last year. Unfortunately, Salve went 2-2 on the weekend and missed out on another cup, but according to Senior Co-Captain Joe Goff the experience was more than helpful for the young team. “Going into the tournament, it was kind of a mixed feel on the team. We wanted to go back and win it, but it’s a physically demanding two days, so we knew that we were going to rest guys in certain games.”
The starters being rested during the weekend prompted the younger players to step up in their absence, and Goff said the tournament was the perfect warm-up for the guys leading up to nationals. For them, the Beast was a major confidence boost and allowed them to see where they’re at before competing on the national stage.
Goff also gave some keys to success this weekend, which will be to get ahead quickly and waste no time getting on the board. Keeping momentum going throughout the match will prove to be an important detail in the undeniably exciting game that’s to come.
Though plagued with injuries throughout the season, the Seahawks are not letting that get in the way of their Championship dreams, nor are they ready to let anyone down. The support they have received from the community has been unmatched. Don’t believe me? There are 36 rooms in the Georgia hotel the team will stay in all booked under Salve players, families, fans, and alumni supporters.
They aim to take note from recent history and bring back the same attitude of the 2012 rugby team that brought Salve Regina its only athletic national title. Goff spoke highly of the standards set by that team both in terms of play and of character, and they continue to ensure those same values remain a part of their game today. One would think that having come so close to a national championship six years later would bring a decent amount of pressure on the team, but Goff insists the guys are more hyped than anything.
If you can’t make the trip down to Georgia this week fear not, there are plenty of ways to watch the Seahawks become national champions right from Newport. Surf Club (on the corner of America’s Cup) is hosting a watch party from 6pm-10p with plenty of TVs and food. You can also watch a live stream from the comfort of your own dorm through the NSCRO’s YouTube channel listed below. You can also follow @SalveRugby on Twitter for updates and live play-by-plays of the weekend’s matches.
https://www.youtube.com/NSCRORugby
