Holy Cross Women’s Rugby Wins National Championship

It was a banner season for Holy Cross’ men’s and women’s rugby clubs.

Both clubs won the Division IV New England Rugby Football Union Playoffs in Newport, R.I., on Nov. 8, and the women’s club went on to win the Division IV National Championship in Philadelphia the following weekend, beating Albright College 44-7.

“We are very proud of their hard work and dedication,” says Kristen Gleason, assistant director of Student Programs and Involvement for recreation. “This is a significant accomplishment for these student groups. The Holy Cross women’s club has been a force in New England Division IV play during the last few years.”

The women’s team season record was 10-0. Senior captains Mary Beth Cotty ’09, Stacy Powell ’09 and Kate Donovan ’09 attribute the successful season and national championship wins to the hard work and dedication of all the players.

“Not only is it the first time we’ve made it postseason, but also the first time we took home the championship,” says Cotty. “Because we won the New England Championship, we will be moving up a division to Division III, which we’ve been aiming to do for four years.”

The New England Championship game against MIT was “an incredibly close match,” says Cotty. The end score was 17-10.

Though the men’s club did not compete in a National Championship, as the New England Union is the country’s only union with a Division IV men’s league, their performance this season marks a great start to their recent recognition as an official student organization.

By Claire Luke ’10

Related Information:

• Office of Student Programs and Involvement