The University of the Pacific won the NSCRO Challenge Cup Sunday with a comeback victory over Northern Colorado Sunday in Pittsburgh.

The final, as well as the 3rd/4th game, can be seen here: http://www.streampittsburgh.com/video/nscro/

UNC scored six tries, but it wasn't enough in the final. Matt Rosemeyer photo.

Washington & Lee won big against IPFW. Tamara Tidey photo.

Washington & Lee scored against IPFW. Tamara Tidey photo.

Pacific and UNC traded unconverted tries all the way through the first 50 minutes, but then Northern Colorado went on a surge that appeared to put them in control. But it turned out it was really UNC’s final push, and Pacific had more in the tank.

UNC took an early lead when they kicked to the corner after a penalty and then put center Derek French in for the first try.

Pacific looked to kick to make UNC run and pin them back. It worked, to a degree, and UNC were penalized repeatedly in their own 22, prompting a warning from the referee. After a long period of pressure, Pacific got over the line, with prop Jasper Juan scoring on the last of a series of pick-and-jams.

So it was 5-5 when Pacific marched back into UNC territory, and saw Northern Colorado prop Blake McCormick sin-binned for yet another ball-killing penalty. Most teams would have opted for a scrum at that point, with a prop on the sidelines, but Pacific tapped and ran, and flanker Zach Bouen picked and dove over. 10-5 Pacific.

Soon it was 10-10 as UNC won the restart and used a nice break from hooker Cody Schwahn to open some space for winger Lucian York.

Then at the stroke of halftime, Northern Colorado sent the ball down the hands, and Schwahn fed York in space and the wing didn’t have to be asked twice. In front long range and a 15-10 UNC lead at the break.

Pacific scored almost immediately at the beginning to he second half, once again forcing a penalty from UNC that resulted in a yellow card. Flanker Steve Whiteman was the guy to score on the pick-and-jam this time.

Northern Colorado replied, running a couple of phases off a scrum and then sending it to York, who worked his way out of trouble to touch down in the corner for his third try. Moments later it was 25-15 for Northern Colorado when No. 8 Skyler Spaur caught a long throw off a lineout and rambled in virtually untouched.

At that point it seemed Northern Colorado was in control. They were testing the Pacific defensive line, and had York to punish any bunching. But Pacific replied. A series of forward surges exposed UNC’s fatigue in their pack, and No. 8 Michael Jimenez scored to make it 25-20. Then Pacific showed they can score in the open field, too, as flyhalf Michael Sitzmann ghosted through a gap as the UNC backs blitzed, and raced 50 meters to score under the posts. Jimenez slotted the first conversion of the day, and University of the Pacific led 27-25.

Soon Pacific was back in the UNC 22, and Jimenez burst through from close range. He kicked that conversion, too, and just like that Pacific led 34-25.

Northern Colorado replied, but they looked too fatigued to keep it up on defense. A nifty break and pass from scrumhalf Sam Murphy set up wing Kyle Nachbar in the corner, but with time winding down Pacific just used their forwards and Bouen went over for his second. By then, Northern Colorado’s defensive shape and energy has dissipated.

Final score, University of the Pacific 39, Northern Colorado 32.

In the consolation match, Washington & Lee hammered Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne 44-5.

Next up for National Small College Rugby Organization is the championship weekend next weekend in Glendale, Colo. St. John’s, Mount St. Mary’s, New England College, and Cal Maritime will compete for the national title.

University of the Pacific 39

Tries: Jimenez 2, Bouen 2, Whitemant, Sitzmann, Juan

Convs: Jimenez 2

Northern Colorado 32

Tries: York 3, French, Spaur, Nachbar

Convs: Murphy