The game always goes on for the women’s rugby team, regardless of seemingly trivial things like the number of available players and whether or not they’ve already forfeited. That was the case when the women traveled to University of North Carolina Greensboro for their second game of the season.Due to injuries, academic conflicts, and consistently low team participation, there were not enough players to make up a full team. One of those injuries included the knee injury sustained by junior and scrum half Julia Chibuka in the first game.

The incomplete team caused the Quakers to have to forfeit even before they hit the pitch. That didn’t stop them from playing.

Borrowing three players from UNC-G allowed the teams to play with 14 players each, instead of the usual 15, by each dropping one of the two wings.

The Quakers showered their persevering spirit early by scoring the first try. UNC-G quickly responded with two tries of their own.

Not long after, sophomore Lydia Rain, who had been playing scrum half, sustained a game-ending injury. In spite of the loss, the Guilford women refused to quit.

Each team agreed to play with only 10 players. Junior Katherine Kennedy, the team’s rock at the hooker position, took over as scrum half, which left the hooker position open for first-year Ri Barry, who usually plays back. And junior and captain Elizabeth Schroder, who normally plays lock, took over as fly half.

Half way through the game Barry was taken out and replaced by another back, sophomore Nicole Guilfoyle.

While the Quakers didn’t come away the victors, the women were still very pleased with their performance.

“Even though we had to forfeit, we made huge strides during the match in terms of support, versatility and responsibility,” said Schroder. “Nearly half of our girls ended up playing positions they’d never played before and they nearly seamlessly adopted their new roles.”

“It was strange adapting,” said Guilfoyle of her time as a forward. “I did the best I could. I kicked the ball back, which is what I’m supposed to do so I think I succeeded.”

The versatility and willingness to do whatever it takes to play found in this game is not an isolated occurrence; it is the mentality the entire team adopts for anything regarding the team.

“It’s hard to win,” said Kennedy. “But it is harder to lose and keep coming out and playing with heart.”

After one practice session the week before the game against UNC-G, Schroder sat down with the team and asked them about their commitment. Together they discussed what they believed the team’s future to be and defined what kind of team they want to be.

“Playing in that game (the team’s first game of the season against Duke) was amazing,” said junior Barbara Dougherty. “I’ve been walking around all day showing people my bruises. I’m ready to commit. Fully.”

Dougherty seemed to express the sentiment shared by the rest of the team.

No matter how much heart and commitment the players have, it won’t be enough to propel the team to victory if they don’t have enough to make up a full team.

“We’re at such a disadvantage because we’re a small liberal arts school with no coach,” said junior and prop Hannah Early.

The team doesn’t have enough money in their budget to pay for a coach.

Je’Lissa Flower, a junior, agrees with Early.

“I think our team would be a lot stronger if we had more players,” she said.

With only one graduating senior on the team, hopefully next year will produce an even stronger team. Until then the women will continue to play regardless of the circumstances and they invite every able-bodied girl they come across to the pitch Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4-6 for practice.