Though undoubtedly full of anxiety, both teams quietly focused before the game, their captains’ voices ringing out in the humid afternoon air. At 2pm, the whistle blew, starting the contest towards playoffs.

Cadden pushes towards her first try of the game with scrumhalf Brianna Kelley in support

In the first 10 minutes, AU dominated, culminating with a try by Kelsey Cadden in the eleventh minute. The conversion missed, but American came back out hard and retained their momentum.

The fans saw some great play from returning players and rookies alike, but Cadden was the leader of the day, scoring another try, bringing AU up to 10. Captain Maggie Mueller kicked a successful conversion, and though Catholic did manage to run in a try, they could not match American’s intensity and skill, losing the match 12-5.

Stronger line-outs were key in AU's victory. Here, AU's jumper contests for the ball.

The match against Catholic was the first of two matrix matches AU needs to win to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. Their second matrix opponent is Towson – a team that American beat three times last fall. Within the sport there is a high turnover from season to season, so the two teams that match up this weekend could be considerably different from last year’s.

It is also unusual for American to have to play its matrix matches back-to-back one weekend after the next. The tone was serious but excited this week at practice as the players contemplated the challenges ahead.

Tomorrow’s game will certainly have an impact, but AU has the home-field advantage. If you want to come out and support the team, the game will be at

3509 7th Avenue, Bladensburg, MD (Colmar Manor Community Park).

Directions here: http://dcrugby.com/directions/colmarmanorpark.html

The weather was damp but the team stayed warm during sprints at a muddy practice last Tuesday..

AUWRFC faced a difficult first week of full-team practices. Tuesday the rookies encountered their first practice in inch-deep mud. Wednesday the non-stop rain led the team to an indoor chalk-talk. Thursday they were back out on the field, only to beaten by a downpour so extreme that one rookie complained that the water dripping in her eyes had completely obscured her vision.

Those challenges translated into a delayed start for AU as they went into last Saturday’s scrimmage against George Washington. GW scored 5 tries with no conversions in the first two 30-minute periods, but AU rallied as the game progressed and began to gain momentum in the second period. Their first try came in the third period from Captain Maggie Mueller, followed by a hard-fought five points scored by Ella “Grams” Holman. Mueller scored again off a penalty, then Jacqui “Cuy” Langer wrapped up the last period with another five points. With one successful conversion, the scrimmage ended GW-30, AU-22.

This week the team worked out their kinks from the weekend, pushing hard at practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The skill level has been improving, and the outlook for the season remains bright as they prepare to face-off against rival Salisbury in their first official game.

Mueller goes in for a tackle during the scrimmage against GW.

In light of all the changes that took place between the spring season and this fall, the team knew it would be facing a lot of challenges. Now as the season gets into full swing, Mueller is optimistic.

At the end of last semester, there was a lot of uncertainty about AUWRFC. We knew we would be around, but at what level we would be playing, what direction our club was going and who was going to lead us [sic]. Now, as we head into our first game, I have the utmost confidence that this will be our greatest season yet!

Our returners have already stepped up as clear leaders and extremely hard workers, on the pitch and off, to fill gaps made by graduated seniors and abroad players; Roly has brought the team together to work as a unit and is bringing us to the next level of rugby play, which is going to make us near unstoppable on the pitch; we have a more positive and optimistic attitude than ever before; and our Rookies are the best I have ever seen!!

Given the combination of all those things, I truly believe that if we keep our heads in and work hard the entire season we have a chance to go to the national playoffs. Truth. I’m so stoked for this season!!!

The sense of excitement is palpable across the whole team. “That first-time in is the most nerve-wracking,” said rookie India English at Saturday’s scrimmage “I feel butterflies in my stomach.”

“They never go away,” responded club president Kesley Cadden.

Those butterflies are definitely here to stay as the team looks forward to the possibility of a lot of firsts this year. The ultimate hope; their first trip to nationals. For now, they anticipate their first game of the season- where regardless of anxiety, AU will certainly be putting in 100%.

This week was also the team’s first with new Head Coach, Roland Pratt, who said he was incredibly happy with the attitude and the work ethic of the ladies from the very first practice. “Their ability to listen to coaching moments and then apply them on the field has been first class. We have already built a nice chemistry and great team spirit, so success on the field is not far away.”

Assistant Coach and alumni, Krysi Hermes, was also very happy with the team’s progress. “So far it looks like everyone has been working hard over the summer,” said Hermes, “We had an easy time of getting back into it. Everyone’s had a great attitude. The new coach has brought fresh energy. We are small but mighty this season. When the team is this small, attitude is one of the most important things; to keep positive.”

With many players having graduated or spending a semester abroad, the team does face small numbers this season. Only sixteen returning players will be stepping onto the pitch this fall, so the team will be depending heavily upon those ranks and recruitment of new players.

However the excitement was still high at practice this week. When asked if she had any comments about the upcoming season, Spring 2011 rookie Loegan Wyatt said she would score her first try. “Put it in, it’s a fact!” she exclaimed with a grin.

The team is also under new leadership at an administrative level. Shomari Kee, American University’s new Assistant Director of Club Sports and Intramurals, is excited to help the women’s rugby team gain momentum. “The women’s rugby team is awesome,” Kee said, “and AU should come support them at every local match that they have.”

With the support of the university, the coaching staff, and the players themselves, AUWRFC is anticipating a landmark season. It won’t come easily though, and everyone is ready to put in the work, from practice to this coming Saturday’s “Rookie Day,” where new players can come and learn more about the team. It should add numbers to the roster for this season, but regardless, AUWRFC is indeed “mighty.”

Under the new leadership of captains Maggie Mueller and Stephanie “She-ra” Tietz, as well as new head coach Roland Pratt, AUWRFC hopes to build on a firm foundation of athleticism and skill that have been building throughout the club’s 15 year history. Though having graduated several seniors at the end of last season and missing several players studying abroad, the club is ready to keep learning, play some rugby, and win some games. Make that all of their games.

Though AUWRFC is always looking for new players, over the next few weeks recruitment will continue in earnest through follow up from Student Orientation and Welcome Week Student Club fairs. If you would be interested in joining the team, leave a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!