College Men
RPI, Sacred Heart, NJIT, and Molloy move on to the semifinals of the Tri-State Conference after all won quarterfinals this weekend.
This wasn’t easy for the winners. Molloy, which finished 1st in the South division at 5-1 just got by Marist 21-17 and Marist was 2-3 in the regular season. NJIT, 5-1 in the regular season, edged Siena 34-27.
I got to spend some time with the American International College men’s rugby program this past week, and it was an interesting experience.
After year of wishing and hoping that colleges would truly embrace rugby as a sport that can help recruit students, and keep students in school, there is this little-known, 140-year-old school that has done just that.
Clemson moved to 4-0 Sunday with a 24-11 defeat of Virginia in ACRL action.
The Tigers, who are slated to clash with AIC in the ACRC Bowl Series, ran out a mostly freshman lineup againt UVA after sending a more veteran group to beat Maryland on Friday. The test of the Clemson depth produced good results, although it wasn't easy on Sunday.
The quarterfinals in the WIIL are set after the last weekend of regular season games.
UW-Whitewater already had sewn up the #1 seed from the North, and Lindenwood-Belleville had already done the same for the South. But there were some things to decide.
Can won the Autumn 7s Saturday on Witter Rugby Field, beating Cal Poly, 36-7, to finish the day 4-0.
Cal also ran out a squad of freshmen and sophomores, and that group impressed, sweeping its pool and taking the Plate with a 43-0 defeat of San Francisco State.