The Capital Conference women's collegiate contests its 15s season in the fall, and thus champion Salisbury University has known since Nov. 4, 2018, that it was returning to the USA Rugby DII College Spring Championship. 

The Maryland team is eager to get into regional playoffs and beyond, especially after last year’s ending.

Watch The 2019 Spring College Finals LIVE on FloRugby May 3-4

“Last year was disappointing,” Salisbury head coach Brock Brooks said of the 2018 spring championship weekend. “We were a better team than we put on display against Claremont [in the semifinals]. We want to play them again and let people realize what Salisbury rugby is about.”

Last year’s team included a bunch of underclassmen, and all but one starter returned for the fall. The squad doesn’t have any seniors.

“We hit the ground running,” Brooks said of the fall. “I honestly think the best thing that could have happened to this team is that we lost [in spring 2018]. We all realized what needed to be done to come back and win.”

Can I Kick For Points?

Captain and flyhalf Elisa Rivera, who is a North Bay product, and No. 8 Kaitlyn Jones set the standard. The forwards, which boast great numbers and internal competition, got standout performances from front rows Maggie Moore and Sophie Clendenin. Fullback Haley Sheldon upped Salisbury’s kicking options and marked one of the best surprises of the year.

“Last year we were playing Fresno State in the consolation game, when she said, ‘I can kick. Can I kick for points?’ ‘Really? You didn’t say anything all year,’” Brooks remembered. “She drilled it. ‘Where did this come from!?’ She’s been killing it to put it blatantly—30-, 40-meter kicks.”

'We Expected To Win'

For this season Brooks introduced some new plays and procedures for the offense, and emphasized a more explosive, field-spreading attack. The defense remained stout, a marker of the Salisbury program. Everything came together for a 7-0 fall season, including two shutouts during the Capital semifinals and final. Regrettably, sophomore Jones tore her ACL on the final play of title match, so the team will miss her on-field presence this season. 

“Not to sound cocky but we expected to win the conference. But that’s not our goal,” Brooks pointed toward the spring championship title. “The players set that bar, not me. We won the conference, we celebrated for about five minutes, and then said: We’re not done yet. We’ve got two weeks off and then started training for the spring.”

The team has been practicing since mid-January and was supposed to play its 2019 opener against Towson last weekend, but weather canceled the fixture. The team will hopefully get field time against William & Mary (March 30), George Mason (April 6) and UMBC on April 12. The spring regional playoffs begin at the Round of 16, and the eastern half of the bracket will face off on April 20-21. 

“There are no question-marks,” Brooks said of the lineup. “We have the right people, it’s just putting them in the right place. In the back line, for example, most of the players have played every position so it’s figuring out what’s best for the competition.”

The four teams that win their respective regions will advance to the USA Rugby DII College Spring Championship the first weekend in May in Matthews, NC. FloRugby will show the games live.

“As a coach, I’m biased. I have to think and always think [we can win],” Brooks spoke to title potential. “We have a good possibility of doing that, but it’s really up to the girls.”