Men's rugby earned a tough 10-3 win over Navy Saturday afternoon in the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) D1A quarterfinals on the road at the Prusmack Rugby Complex in Annapolis, Maryland. In a very physical and muddy match, the Midshipmen showed some early signs of a well-oiled kicking game, but the Lions were well disciplined and played outstanding defense, especially down the stretch after gaining the lead. Lindenwood resisted every Navy scoring effort and held the Mids without a try.
How it Happened:
After the first scrum of the game went to the Lions, they immediately put pressure on Navy. With a slick ball and field, the conditions screamed chaos, but Lindenwood thrived. The Lions found gaps on the edges and launched wave after wave of attack, turning defense into opportunity with sharp, strategic kicking, fearless playmaking, and crisp, creative attacking shapes.
In what proved to be a very low scoring game, Lindenwood put points on the board early. With a scrum just 10 meters from the Navy line, the Lions forward pack unleashed a massive shove, driving Mids back and forcing a foul.
Byron Forword calmly slotted the penalty kick and Lindenwood led 3-0 in the third minute.
The remainder of the first half featured multiple drives from each squad as they searched for a breakthrough moment, but all the effort was inevitably undone by the muddy conditions. It was still 3-0 Lions at the break.
As the second half began, Navy appeared to be on a mission. After a deep kick into Lindenwood territory, the Mids put pressure on the Lions that resulted in penalty on Lindenwood at the 22-meter line. Navy made it count with a perfect boot through the uprights to tie the contest at 3-3 in the 45
th minute.
The ensuing Lions kickoff was the turning point of the match. With the Mids gaining momentum,
Brendan Mason launched a perfect bomb right down the middle. After Navy failed to secure the ball, it took a lucky bounce and
Duncan Krige, who had sprinted down the pitch, used his speed, size, and determination to gather it and dive over for a try. Forword nailed the conversion and Lindenwood suddenly led 10-3 in the 47
th minute.
With 33 minutes remaining on the game clock, there was still much work to be done. The Mids continued to press the issue, but the Lions defense was impressive and kep them from scoring. When the final whistle blew, Lindenwood had advanced to the D1A semifinals and Navy was held without a try for the first time in program history.
Coach Quote:
Assistant Coach
Stephen Duff: "In the final five minutes, the boys showed the heart and desire needed to go all the way. It was a complete team performance. Our backfield neutralized their biggest threats with smart positioning and composure under the high ball. Navy was strong in the air, but once it hit the ground, our maul defense turned the tide. That's the kind of rugby that defines character and wins big games."
Player Quote:
Senior
Connor Devos: "It was a good showing for the boys. It was a very physical and muddy game, but we didn't back down and kept making tackle after tackle. I think the guys who played in the semifinals against Navy two years ago showed up with a chip on their shoulder. I am very impressed with how the boys responded to the physicality and the crowd atmosphere, not letting it be a factor in our performance."
What's Next?
The Lions, the No. 3 seed on the eastern side of the playoff bracket, will face No. 1 seed Life University on April 19. The Running Eagles escaped with an 18-17 victory over No. 4 Army on a late penalty kick. The two teams are familiar foes, with Life topping Lindenwood 28-24 at Hunter Stadium back in mid-February. The semifinal match will be played at Lupo Family Field in Marietta, Georgia at a time to be determined.
Scoring Summary:
3' Lindenwood Penalty Kick
Byron Forword 0-3
45' Navy Academy Penalty kick 3-3
46' Lindenwood Try
Duncan Krige 3-8
47' Lindenwood Conversion
Byron Forword 3-10
