By Pat Cusick
WHEELING, WV — The men’s rugby team improved its record to 2-1 (2-0, Rugby East) on Saturday afternoon by defeating Wheeling Jesuit, 38-33, following a close, hard-fought match. Junior wing Mike Eife scored two tries on the day and sophomore scrumhalf Jimmy Ronan provided the Nittany Lions with the other 28 points in the form of two conversions and eight penalties; Ronan went 8-9 on penalties in total.
Freshmen flyhalf Mike Dabulas and fullback Kevin Trotter earned their first starts for the team over the weekend respectively. Previously, freshman lock Jack Mclean and junior flanker Tyler Kio made their first starts for the team, against St. Bonaventure, while junior flanker Danny Featherston appeared against American International College.
Also against Wheeling Jesuit, senior hooker Jason Hodess and sophomore lock Dan Winkowski received their first minutes, coming on in substitution.
Penn State plays at West Virginia University this coming Saturday, for the team’s first meeting with the Mountaineers inside the Rugby East Conference. West Virginia moves to Division IA after competing in the Mason-Dixon conference of Division I last season.
