Men's rugby fell to Army 19-15 in the USA Rugby D1A National Championship semifinals Friday night in West Point, New York. Kayleb O'Donoghue and Shiven Dukhande each scored a try and Evan Williams contributed with five points to account for the Lindenwood offense. 
 
How it Happened:
The Black Knights put the first points of the match on the board when a cross-field kick was received and taken over the try line at the 15-minute mark. The conversion gave Army an early 7-0 lead.  
 
The Lions cut into the deficit 12 minutes later when Williams slotted a penalty kick, but the Black Knights countered in the 37^th minute when after driving down to the five-meter line, they were awarded a penalty try due to Lindenwood entering the maul from the side. The Black Knights advantage ballooned ever further early in the second half when a Lions scrum was wheeled sideways and an Army player scooped up the ball and ran 50-meters for a 19-3 lead.   
 
The Lions really needed a spark and that came in the 51^st minute when Tyren Al-Jiboori swung the ball out to Nick Hardrict, II who was tackled just three meters from the try line, but a supporting Dukhande grabbed the ball off of the ground and dotted down in the corner to cut the score to 19-8 in favor of the Black Knights. Lindenwood struck again with 10 minutes remaining when a five-meter lineout was mauled over by the Lions with O'Donoghue adding the five points. Williams booted the conversion to pull Lindenwood within four points at 19-15. 
 
Both teams fought for field position and used their defense in an attempt to earn the victory in the final moments. A final Lions possession was stalled with no time remaining when a knock-on deep into Army territory ended the game. 
 
Player Quote: 
Captain Marnus Spangenberg: "This was a devastating end to the (XV's) season, but the heart and character of the players really showed through by not just laying down and rolling over in the second half. I'm proud of the lads and proud of a great season. Next year, a few steps up to the main goal." 
 
What's Next: 
Men's rugby finishes the XV's season with a record of 29-2 and a Mid-South Conference championship, the only two losses coming at the hands of the Black Knights. The Lions now shift focus to defending their sevens title at the USA Rugby Collegiate Seven's National Championships May 14-15 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. They will also enter as defending champions at the Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC) two weeks later at Nola Gold Mine MLR Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. 
 
Box Score: 
15' Army Try 5-0 
16' Army Conversion 7-0 
27' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Evan Williams 7-3 
37' Army Penalty Try 14-3 
42' Army Try 19-3 
51' Lindenwood Try Shiven Dukhande 19-8 
70' Lindenwood Try Kayleb O'Donoghue 19-13 
70' Lindenwood Conversion Evan Williams 19-15 
 
Lineup:     
1. Liam Smith– Beorn Graham 66'      
2. Runako Brynard - Kayleb O'Donoghue 63' 
3. Samuel Buckley – Gabriel Kettering 45' 
4. Marnus Spangenberg  
5. Eduan van Heerden - Duncan Krige 59' 
6. Clarence Ekoume-Bienes  -  Juan Mota Sanchez 62' 
7. Cian Darling   
8. Neal Moylett  - William Whiteside 69'  
9. Evan Conlon – Alejo Gallego Boniello 68'  
10. Evan Williams   
11. Tyren Al-Jiboori  - Jake Jacobson 64'     
12. Rhys Smith      
13. Stephen Alberts   
14. Nick Hardrict, II      
15. Shiven Dukhande