Fantastic news for the Penn State rugby program, as PSU Berks defeated Keene State College 11 to 6 today at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex to win their first DIII National Championship! They finished the match with “a 15 minute goal line stand to preserve their narrow lead” according to Coach Bruce Hale.
Berks had dodged a big bullet in Saturday’s semifinal match against William Patterson University when the New Jersey school stormed back to score a try on the last play of regulation to bring them within one point of Berks. The conversion slid off the far post by inches to preserve Berks’ victory, 17-13. Trys by Moyer, Davis, and Rubik, and a conversion by Correa provided the victory Margin.
Berks entered the championship match against a strong Keene State team who had come from behind in the other semifinal on the boot of their talented English flyhalf to earn their place in the title match. Berks struck first on the opening play of the match when Joe Morrione tackled, then stripped the Keene winger and raced in for the try and a 5-0 lead. Berks added two penalty kicks (one a monstrous 48 meter strike from Eric Rubik) to stretch their lead to 11-0 to close out the half. The second half saw Berks on defense against the wind. Keene converted two penalty kicks to tighten the score to 11-6. In the final 15 minutes Berks defended relentlessly, including several Keene trys in goal that were held up by Berks defenders to secure the dramatic victory.
Berks flyhalf Cesare Coscia was named the MVP for the finals. The national championship is the first for any Penn State Berks sports team, and they are the first EPRU team to claim the title.
Congratulations to Bruce, his staff, and all the players who worked so hard this season, and performed so incredibly this weekend!
Well done everyone!
