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Rugby Beats Xavier (NY), MAVRC Championship Up Next
Gonzaga’s Varsity Purple Rugby team beat rival Xavier (NY) in a hard fought match on Sunday, May 6 on Buchanan Field, 20-17. The Eagles entered the contest ranked #2 in the nation while the visiting Knights were ranked #5. Seeding for the upcoming Nationals was on the line. The Eagles were led by the play of senior captains Will Lyke, Calder Jones, and Ryan Ebel. Gonzaga went up early in the game 3-0 behind a penalty kick by senior Owen Sheehy and then added to the lead with a try by sophomore Luke McGrail off a series of good attacking plays.
Several Gonzaga errors allowed Xavier to score and cut the lead to 8-7. Gonzaga responded right away with a try by Matt Freeman to take a half time lead of 13-7. In the second half neither team was able to really assert themselves until an interception allowed Xavier to once again cut the score to 1 point, 13-12. Once again Gonzaga responded with a powerful driving lineout maul to extend the lead to 20-12.
Here is video of two great tries from Gonzaga:
Xavier was able to score with a few minutes left to cut the score to 20-17 but the Gonzaga forwards closed out the game by holding onto the ball for the last 3 minutes of the game to secure the win. Here is video of the final drive:
"It was a good win for us where we had to work really hard to overcome our mistakes and hold out a very good Xavier team. This is the type of game that helps to prepare us for the MAVRC Championship this coming Friday against Good Counsel and then on to the National Championships," said Head Coach Peter Baggetta.
The win secured the number one seeding for Gonzaga for the National Championships which will be played May 17-19 in Kansas City, MO. Gonzaga will take on Greenwich (CT) in the quarter-final game on Thursday, May 17.
The team will host the MAVRC Championship on Friday, May 11 under the lights on Buchanan Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.
Go Gonzaga!
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Several Gonzaga errors allowed Xavier to score and cut the lead to 8-7. Gonzaga responded right away with a try by Matt Freeman to take a half time lead of 13-7. In the second half neither team was able to really assert themselves until an interception allowed Xavier to once again cut the score to 1 point, 13-12. Once again Gonzaga responded with a powerful driving lineout maul to extend the lead to 20-12.
Here is video of two great tries from Gonzaga:
Xavier was able to score with a few minutes left to cut the score to 20-17 but the Gonzaga forwards closed out the game by holding onto the ball for the last 3 minutes of the game to secure the win. Here is video of the final drive:
"It was a good win for us where we had to work really hard to overcome our mistakes and hold out a very good Xavier team. This is the type of game that helps to prepare us for the MAVRC Championship this coming Friday against Good Counsel and then on to the National Championships," said Head Coach Peter Baggetta.
The win secured the number one seeding for Gonzaga for the National Championships which will be played May 17-19 in Kansas City, MO. Gonzaga will take on Greenwich (CT) in the quarter-final game on Thursday, May 17.
The team will host the MAVRC Championship on Friday, May 11 under the lights on Buchanan Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.
Go Gonzaga!
Celebrating 200 Years of Jesuit Education in the Nation's Capital
