“The Kennesaw State University Women’s Rugby Football club was established with its inaugural competitive season starting in Fall of 2010. With its first competitive season starting in Spring 2011, the team went undefeated in the regular season, became regional champions, and competed in the National Championship play-offs for DII.” – 2011 Kennesaw State Women’s Rugby website post

Since then, Kennesaw State has gone back and forth between victorious and second-rate seasons. In the matter of a few seasons, club president Brette Abshier said the team went from undefeated to forfeiting every game due to lack of players or injuries. However, after two wins against Lee University and University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Kennesaw State is looking toward an undefeated season before playoffs.

“UTC was one of our main competitors. There isn’t good camaraderie between our two teams. We knew they would want to win for revenge from our last game,” Abshier said.

Kennesaw State added extra practices and finesses sessions to its schedule in order to prepare for the spring season’s games. Even the rookies were prepared for UTC and Kennesaw No. 8 rookie Lydia Wood scored her first hat trick of the season. Flyhalf Amanda Lamb also touched one down for a Kennesaw victory of 20-14.

“We won almost every lineout. Even when it was their put, we set up offensively because we knew we were going to win the ball,” Abshier said.

Yet, the women still had some problems in the defensive and offensive play that will make their next game against the University of North Georgia a challenge. Kennesaw State has relied on supporting its strongest player, Wood. However, it was rare to see following support when there was a break away. Ball turnover was constant and allowed UTC too many opportunities to score. Fortunately for Kennesaw State, UTC wasn’t able to capitalize on these mistakes.

Previously, the women kept to basic rugby and didn’t attempt to compete for a ball that wasn’t there’s. In preparation for North Georgia’s skilled backline, Kennesaw State will be focusing on keeping their defensive line straight while counterrucking.

After North Georgia, Kennesaw State is slated to face off against Middle Tennessee State University. However, MTSU has forfeited all of its games so far, so Abshier is expecting another win from them as well.