Her Campus got to know the captains of the UNH Women’s Rugby Team, Maria Albini and Alyssa Berthiaume. The dynamic duo had led their team to finishing their season ranked second in the region, and amongst the top eight teams in the country after competing in last weekend’s National Small College Rugby Organization’s (NCSRO) Regionals at Colby-Sawyer College!
Name: Maria Albini
From: Southington, CT
Year: Junior
Major: Criminal Justice: International Justice and Security
Position: Women’s Rugby Team Captain
Name: Alyssa Berthiaume
From: Feeding Hills, MA
Year: Senior
Major: Forensic Biology
Position: Women’s Rugby Team Captain
HC: What kind of changes have you, as a team, made from last season to this season?
Maria: The team has really stepped up their level of commitment this season. We, as a whole, all had the goal to win our conference, and make it the playoffs. As a result of that, practices were much more intense this season.
Alyssa: We started having captain’s practice’s to reinforce concepts learned in practice, and put more emphasis on fitness.
HC: What are your goals individually and as a team, and have you felt that you’ve met those goals?
Maria: My and the team’s goals were the same. We all wanted to win, most importantly, and we also wanted to make it to nationals. We were undefeated in our conference, but unfortunately lost one game that kept us from our goal of reaching nationals.
Alyssa: My individual goal was to make it to playoffs, and as a team we wanted to work together as a team and improve. We definitely met those goals because we placed second in the region and top eight in the country, and could not have made it as far as we did if we didn’t work as a team.
HC: Do you feel that team bonding is imperative towards successful gameplay?
Maria: I definitely feel that team bonding is imperative towards success because I think team chemistry needs to be there, as well as trust. Trust is essential in rugby because you need your teammates behind you.
Alyssa: 100 percent. Rugby is a team sport, and on the field you need to trust that the girl next to you is supporting you, and is capable of fulfilling their role. That kind of trust only comes with being close with your teammates.
HC: How do you guys hype yourselves up before a game?
Maria: Everyone on the team has their own way of getting themselves hyped up, but the night before games, we have a pasta dinner and give out jerseys to those who are starting, which usually fires everyone up.
Alyssa: Before warm-ups, we sit or stand in a circle, and discuss our goals for the game, which helps to mentally prepare us and get ready to play.
HC: Do you feel playing rugby empowers you more as women?
Maria: Rugby definitely empowers us more as women because it allows us to be fearless and aggressive. Rugby allows us to play a contact sport and be strong, confident women.
Alyssa: Absolutely! People have a tendency to think of women as delicate or fragile, and rugby players are anything but. Personally, playing rugby makes me feel unstoppable and like nothing can keep me from achieving my goals.
For their playoff game on Saturday, November 14, 2015, the team had defeated the University of New England 29-22 during overtime after being down three tries in the beginning of the game. The next day they had taken on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and though they had given it their all, they had, unfortunately, come up short in overtime. Nevertheless, congratulations on a great season, ladies, with all of your hard work and determination, you’ll only set the bar that much higher for next season!