There are many familiar notes in Bloomsburg’s recent past. The program wanted to be more competitive, so it hired a tested coach, Kevin Castner from East Stroudsburg University. He injected structure and discipline, and while there was some resistance, the players subscribed to this success-driven culture. The affect was realized on the pitch, and Bloomsburg started winning. The conference finalist advanced to the fall national championship, where the number of new experiences started to overwhelm.

“We choked, if that’s what you want to call it,” Castner said of the fall Round of 16. “We went up to Dartmouth – and yeah, we weren’t deep and had some injuries – but those are just excuses. They know they under-performed and aren’t happy with it. But it’s been motivating. You don’t remember those teams that bowed out that quickly, and they want to make their mark.”

The team wasn’t mentally prepared for the post-season, but now the core of returners has an experience toward which it can expect and build. Those players who want a starting XV position, they’re heading to the gym every day at 6 a.m. and attending extra workout sessions. They’re fighting for spots, as Castner makes wholesale changes to the lineup every week. It’s still an exciting time, much like a year ago, but now there is more strategy in placing players where they actually belong and building a story that starts to diverge from the familiar.

So far, Bloomsburg has defeated Millersville 72-5 and Scranton 69-15 in the Pennsylvania Division of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC).

“We’ve had some lopsided wins, but they were sloppy,” Castner said. “We’re still trying things out. The last few games before playoffs will be tougher, and that’s how we’re targeting it. Right now is like tryouts, and during the final conference games, that will be our team and how we’re going forward. That’s not to say no one can be dropped or added, but that will be our team for the most part.”

This roster flexibility is possible because the player core provides consistency. Leading the way is captain Kelly Mason, back from a broken foot sustained in 7s. She has moved from fullback to flyhalf and has been working hard to align the team in the right direction.

Centers Selena Fernandez and Cait Rycek combine for a knock-out center duo.

“They’re lights out,” Castner praised. “They do everything you want your centers to do: Inside center shores up the defense, crashes the ball and offloads. The outside centers is making those open-field tackles and poaching the ball out there.”

Prop Megan Reilly anchors the front row and showed her penchant for 7s tries last spring. The pack is missing flanker Naiomi Cayo-Nelson,who transferred to North Georgia after losing her in-state status.

Nicole Snyder is the newcomer to watch. She joined the team during last spring, when Bloomsburg won the MARC 7s championship and advance to the ACRA tournament.

“She’s an all-around athlete,” Castner said. “She just goes above and beyond with her evasion skills, power, speed, go-forward, and natural ability to pick up the game. We’re trying to figure out the best position for her – flanker or center – but she is one to look out for.”

Bloomsburg isn’t looking past any opponent, but the first big test will be East Stroudsburg, which is currently 2-0, on Oct. 24. The MARC playoffs begin in November, and although there’s still a lot of rugby before then, there’s a good chance for a repeat Bloomsburg vs. Kutztown in the final. The need for retribution is certainly on Bloomsburg’s side.

“Last fall, Kutztown got up early, but it was relatively even heading into the half,” Castner remembered. “But experience took over in the second half and they ran away with it. But like we teach the girls every day, you learn more failure.

“We want to test ourselves against the best teams in the conference,” Castner added. “If it’s Kutztown in the end – great, we’d love to play them again in the final.”