As if to prove their doubters wrong, the Radcliffe players have over the years dedicated themselves to numerous early-morning practices and to off-season play.

Captain Patty Seo, for example, recalls heading to chemistry classes at nine in the morning--sweaty and exhausted after two hours of practice.

The toil has yielded dividends. In addition to steadily improving performances every season, the team drove south to Washington, D.C. and Virginia during last year's spring break to compete in a club tournament.

"That sort of thing got us better known on the circuit, and it helped us gain some experience against the veteran club teams," Kim said.

And the beat goes on. While plans for this year remain indefinite, one possibility under consideration is a trip to Italy, according to Stockman.

The Great Leap Forward

Radcliffe rugby's ascent has been a long time coming, but this season's successes undoubtedly constitute a significant step up.

After a preseason tournament in which Radcliffe won two out of three matches, the Black and White has gone undefeated in five contests, including a victory over UMass that avenged its lone preseason loss.

Bolstered by its strong senior contingent and an unusually talented group of young players like sophomores Maggie Hatcher, Kelly Gilbride, Emily Yee and Bex Wallison, the team has yielded only three points all season.

The reason for success? In the spirit of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, one word comes to mind: family.

"This team really holds together well," said Greg Studen, a parent who has followed the program since his daughter Liza, a senior, joined three years ago. "They have such spirit and drive, and it's obvious that they love the game."

The team's spirit, Gartner said, brings tangible benefits. Because of it, approximately 30 players come out to every practice, which adds important depth to the program.

The depth of talent allows Radcliffe to field a B-side, equivalent to a junior varsity team, which has itself gone undefeated this year while not surrendering a single point.

"[The younger players] contribute a lot to our overall success, because they provide excellent practice partners for the A-side, and they're getting themselves ready for the future," Gartner said.

Hope for the future, of course, does not detract from the here and now. The Black and White will enter postseason play this weekend for the first time this decade.