SOUTH BEND, Ind. --
It was a great weekend of rugby as Notre Dame College Men's Falcon rugby traveled to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana for the First Annual Notre Dame Catholic Cup. Over 50 players and coaches, along with many parents in support, made the trip to play two games at UND. Also making the trip was Notre Dame College President Tom Kruczek, along with his wife Carrie, to do the ceremonial coin toss prior to both games.
President Kruczek was very excited to help with the opening festivities, as he is also an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, where he received both his undergraduate and MBA degrees. He was, however, donned in all NDC colors and to show his allegiance to his new home. He and his wife enjoyed both games, in which they saw the second team lose a close game to UND, 16-15. However, the Falcons' first team played very well in dominating the Fighting Irish by a score of 60-14. This marked another impresiver win for the young NDC Men's Falcon rugby team as they move to 2-0 on the year. This was the second victory in a row against a D1A opponent, as the Falcons also beat University at Buffalo in NDC's home opener 55-0 the last Saturday, August 29.
NDC was in control from the beginning to the end of the game. With strong performances by all the pack players up front, the Falcons backs were able to run through the Fighting Irish defense. Back player of the game
Marcus Tupuola, a USA U-20 national player, tallied three tries (5 points each) on some great individual efforts.
Cory Graham,
Roneil Reynolds and
Dustin Beavis each scored two tries while Zach Forro added one of his own as they score due to great team efforts that benefited from having great pack play.
Logan Weinstock played very well at controlling the pace of the Falcon attack from the scrumhalf position and keeping the Fighting Irish defense guessing. Pack player of the game
Cullen Barelka showed why he may be considered for the U-20 USA national team this year, with great defense and many breaks through the Fighting Irish lines to set up Falcon scoring opportunities. Also playing great games were Nick Jaughin at hooker,
Alec Janotka at prop, and captain Spencer Duncan at lock. The whole pack played as a team with outstanding defense and controlling offense. Closing out the scoring were three conversions by
Alec Janotka and two more by
Logan Weinstock.
The second team played much improved rugby compared to the previous week in which they lost to a strong Buffalo team, 15-10, on the last play of the game. This week saw the men's Falcon rugby second team play a much better game in losing 16-15 in a close back and forth match. The Fighting Irish scored three penalty kicks (worth three points each) to take a 9-0 lead before freshman flyhalf Joe Wollerman scored a try on a nice kick through to make it 5-9 at the half.
Through strong team play in the second half, the Falcons were able to spin the ball outside to freshman
Liam Tipton-Fletcher, whose extreme speed took him over 50 meters for a try. Wollerman added the conversion to make it 12-9. The Irish were able to capitalize on a fielding error in the try zone to take a 12-16 lead. Wollerman added a penalty kick to finish the scoring, 16-15.
The Falcons second team, made up primarily of first and second year players, are quickly learning how to play as a team and learn the formations and systems implemented by the coaching staff.
The NDC Men's Falcon rugby team will travel to play two more D1A opponents over the next two weeks. First up is University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky before taking on the University of West Virginia, in Morgantown, West Virginia. NDC will return home for Community Weekend vs John Carroll University on Saturday, Sept. 26 when the program will recognize its first ever senior class.
