Men's rugby advanced to the D1A Playoff quarterfinals with a 31-10 victory over Penn State in the Round of 16 at Hunter Stadium.
Tom Bishop,
Riley Richardson-Mould, and
Jaydyn Bartels all crossed for tries, while
Byron Forword controlled the game off the tee with 11 points.
What Happened:
Lindenwood struck first in the 15th minute, as
Tom Bishop finished off a well-built attacking sequence to open the scoring.
Byron Forword added the conversion to give the Lions a 7-0 lead. Penn State responded shortly after with a penalty kick in the 18th minute, narrowing the margin to 7-3.
The Lions continued to apply pressure, and Forword extended the lead with a penalty kick in the 27th minute. Just before halftime,
Riley Richardson-Mould powered over the line in the 40th minute, with Forword converting once again to send Lindenwood into the break with a 17-3 advantage. Despite a scrappy first half, the Lions were composed, with Forword's accuracy and
David Scanlon's defensive leadership setting the tone.
Penn State came out firing in the second half, scoring a converted try in the 54th and 55th minutes to close the gap to 17-10 and shift momentum.
Lindenwood responded late, staying patient and capitalizing on opportunities. A penalty try in the 76th minute stretched the lead to 24-10, before
Jaydyn Bartels sealed the result with a try in the 78th minute. Forword added the final conversion to cap a 31-10 win.
The Lions held firm in a physical contest, executing when it mattered most to secure their place in the quarterfinals.
Coach Quote:
"Penn State were outstanding played for everything and made us earn every moment. There are lessons in that for them, and for us. We'll learn them quickly and turn our focus to the quarterfinals. Onto the next job."
Player Quote:
"Our First playoff game against Penn state posed a few challenges, but we stayed composed and trusted each other when it mattered the most. Everyone stepped up, and our reserves brought serious energy, upped the tempo, and finished the job strong. Proud of all the boys' efforts- onto the quarters.
What's Next
Lindenwood advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face Life University at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, with kickoff set for 12:00 PM. With knockout rugby underway, the Lions will look to carry their momentum forward, focusing on discipline and clinical execution as they push for a place in the semifinals.
Score Summary:
15' Lindenwood Try Tom Bishop 5-0
18' Lindenwood Conversion Byron Forword 7-0
20' Penn State Penalty Kick 7-3
27' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Byron Forword 10-3
40' Lindenwood Try Riley Richardson-Mould 15-3
41' Lindenwood Conversion Byron Forword 17-3
54' Penn State Try 17-8
55' Penn State Conversion 17-10
76' Lindenwood Penalty try 24-10
78' Lindenwood Try Jaydyn Bartels 29-10
79' Lindenwood conversion 31-10
