She lived there until she graduated from high school, going on to pursue a BA in both English and Spanish at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

She played rugby throughout college at inside center and was president of her university's club team her junior and senior years.

After college, Berard moved to Minneapolis and played with the Minnesota Valkyries Women's Rugby Team, but was forced to resign due to neck injuries.

In December 2011, her first international appointment, she traveled to Port Elizabeth, South Africa to serve as an Assistant Referee for the IRB Sevens World Series.

This successful appearance helped secure her a spot in the first IRB sanctioned Women's Sevens Challenge Cup in Hong Kong in March 2012.