The STU women’s rugby team is after a championship banner – again.
After last year’s 39-0 win against Mount Allison in the final game, the Tommies are looking to capture another Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association championship at home this Sunday.
The team placed first in the league, guaranteeing a spot in the finals. At the time of publication, the team’s opponent was not announced. The semi-final game between Mount Allison and Nova Scotia Agricultural College was set for Oct. 30 at 3 p.m., but was postponed due to inclement weather.
Sherry Doiron, the team’s head coach, said the preparation process for a championship game can be difficult.
“One of the biggest things to happen to us this year was to lose a game. And I think that – it kind of sounds funny, the coach saying this – I think it’s a great thing to happen. I think sometimes people get caught up in being undefeated. To lose a game is to be humbled and to want it more and to develop that hunger again.”
This is Doiron’s fourth season with the STU team.
She said her goal in coaching is to teach her athletes to think strategically and not be afraid of making mistakes.
“In life you have to become a thinker and a problem solver, and so I really try to spend a lot of time empowering my athletes to be able to think through their problems.”
The team has been doing a lot of mental rehearsal and sports psychology along with their daily practices and fitness training. They’ve also been analyzing their game with video sessions to note what areas needs more work and what’s going on with their opponents.
“The two weeks affords us the opportunity to do a lot of work, and it’s a lot of work. We didn’t get an extra couple of days off because we won – we’re actually working harder during this period of time.”
The ACAA women’s rugby finals are on Sunday at 1 p.m. at College Field.
