“Rugby is a sport that breathes camaraderie and support,” said Gennaro Gelsi, head coach of the men’s club rugby team. “When we get flowing and we move the ball quickly, we play a very exciting brand of rugby.”
The men started their fall season off strong with three wins, each dominating the score with around a 50 point differential. They beat Central Connecticut State University 55-0 on Sept. 20, had a 69-10 win over Quinnipiac University on Sept. 27, and won 56-10 over Southern Connecticut State University on Oct. 19.
Source: Instagram, @ryan.mastropaolo
Their only loss came against Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Oct. 4, finishing with a final score of 64-26.
“I think anytime you take a tough loss, it’s about how you respond. For us, it is focusing on getting back to the fundamentals that made us so successful in the first two games. Communication, discipline and doing the little things right on the field,” said Gelsi.
This is Gelsi’s first year as head coach of the team, and he has already made a positive impact on the team.
“Everyone loves Gelsi. Everyone is bought in. Practices with him as our new coach have gone back to being the best part of my day,” said senior captain Jeremy Suhr.
The Pioneer’s record this season has significantly improved from last fall when the men went 1-3. Senior Ryan Mastropaolo credits their progress to the team’s chemistry.
“We’re a pretty close knit group of guys, and I think that correlates to on the field as well. Just being close off the field, hanging out, having a good brotherhood, it really shows that you have each other’s backs on the field,” said Mastropaolo.
Gelsi attributes the team’s noteworthy record to an adopted “winning mentality” he has skilled his men with.
“For me, it’s all about business. I tell them we’re not allowed to celebrate until we win the championship. It’s about business. We are there to do a job,” said Gelsi.
“This is absolutely a team where if you are not bought into the same vision and want to win a championship, we don’t really want you to play,” said Suhr.
The team has one scheduled match remaining, although two more matches are possible, a semi-final and a championship game. The last scheduled match is Oct. 26 at the University of Hartford.
“These guys want to represent Sacred Heart. They want to have a winning team. They want to make their school proud,” Gelsi said.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article.
