No. 5 Men’s Rugby Welcomes St. Bonaventure

Saturday, September 19

West Point, N.Y.

8:30 PM

Army West Point

St. Bonaventure

No. 5 Men’s Rugby Welcomes St. Bonaventure

September 18, 2015 | Men's Rugby

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The fifth-ranked Army West Point men's rugby team will welcome Rugby East opponent St. Bonaventure to Anderson Rugby Complex, competing under the lights in game two of the 2015-16 season.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. as the Black Knights look to improve to 2-0 on the season.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Admission to Anderson Rugby Complex is free to the public. Tickets are not required. Fans are encouraged to park along the fence line surrounding Anderson Rugby Complex on Upton Road. Parking will also be available along Upton Road by Shea Stadium and Gillis Field House. Only authorized and handicapped vehicles will be permitted to park inside of Anderson Rugby Complex. Admission inside Anderson Rugby Complex is not permitted and the use of alcohol or tobacco inside the gates is prohibited.

HOW TO FOLLOW
A live stream of the game will be provided by Knight Vision, with Nikoli Busko on the call. Fans can purchase a 24-hour pass to Knight Vision for $6.95, a monthly subscription for $9.95 or a yearlong plan for $79.95. Follow the link here to purchase a subscription.

As always, fans can visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for up-to-date information and follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_MRugby for live updates. Fans are also encouraged to download the app Periscope for behind-the-scenes video content and follow the men's rugby team on Instagram @armywprugby.

THE GAME
The fifth-ranked Black Knights return to the pitch at Anderson Rugby Complex for a meeting with Rugby East rival St. Bonaventure under the lights. With a record of 1-0, the game is the second of a three-game homestand for the Black Knights who will take to the road for the remainder of the season. The match will be the second of the season for St. Bonaventure who enters the evening with a record of 0-1 after falling to No. 9 Penn State in its season opener.

Army is riding off of a 48-0 blanking of Buffalo in its season opener, a game in which the Black Knights dominated the Bulls physically, muscling their way to a win.

"It was nice to get the win and I think there were some positives coming out of the game, but I think mostly we're excited about a lot of areas that we've targeted to improve," said head coach Matt Sherman. "The scrums were a positive. Our physicality was a positive and I think we expect to continue to be strong there as well as improving in areas that we've targeted that maybe we weren't as sharp as we should have been."

SHERMAN ERA
The 2015-16 season ushers in a new chapter for the Black Knights as it officially kicks off the Matt Sherman era. The former All-American and national team member's hiring was announced on Aug. 11 by Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. Sherman joins the Black Knights staff after a five-year tenure as the Director of Rugby at Stanford. With his hiring, he becomes the first full-time coach in Army West Point men's rugby history, filling the void after Mike Mahan announced his retirement in May. The men's rugby program joined the Army Athletic Association in August 2014.

"I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Army West Point men's rugby program," stated Sherman. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join one of the great institutions of leadership, dedicated to service of our country, as well as a rugby program with a distinguished tradition and history. I am proud to become your head coach and excited to get to work on the challenges ahead."

Since 2011, Sherman has led all rugby efforts at Stanford, including coaching, staffing, recruiting, administration and scheduling for both the men's and women's programs. Under his tutelage, the men's team reached the national quarterfinals twice and the women's program advanced to the national final four three times. In addition, he helped the rugby programs fundraise more than $1 million and increased admitted recruits from zero to seven.

While leading the Cardinal program, Sherman also served as the Men's College All-Americans Head Coach from 2012-2014. In both of his years with the team, he earned a winning record and more than 50 percent of his athletes moved on to play for the senior men's national team.

From 2009-11, Sherman worked with the U.S. Men's National Team as an assistant coach, working with the back line. His squad produced a victory over Russia in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Sherman is joined at West Point by his wife, Kristen, daughter, Piper (nine weeks), and dog, Cooper.

LAST MEETING
The Black Knights last met the Bonnies on Sept. 27, 2014, when they claimed a 36-22 victory to move to 3-0 on the season, en route to an unblemished 8-0 regular season. Five Black Knights found the scoresheet, as both Dom Mori and Collum Magee registered two-score afternoons.

The Black Knights started off hot, with Jack Ireland scoring a try in the first minute of action. Twenty minutes later, captain Magee added a try and Mori followed in the 31st minute, with Logan Pearce converting the kick.

In the second half, Mori scored his second of the game. David Huff added a try in the 72nd minute, followed by Magee's second of the game in the 79th minute. Pearce converted both kicks.

ARMY'S LAST TIME OUT
Army trounced Rugby East foe Buffalo in its last outing, capturing a 48-0 victory from Anderson Rugby Complex in the season opener.

Six different players scored as the Black Knights blanked the Bulls to move to 1-0 on the season.

Army got on the board first as Luke Heun found the try zone in the fifth minute to give the Black Knights the 5-0 advantage. Donny Goff and Andrew Fargo would score back-to-back tries in the ninth and 15th minutes, with Thomas Del Pino converting Fargo's score, to put the fifth-ranked Cadets up 17-0.

In the 24th minute, Peter Basnight found the try zone following a scrum in which the Black Knights were able to push the Buffalo defenders deep into their own territory. Cameron Hargis posted a try in the 33rd minute and Army headed into the break with the 27-0 lead.

Fargo continued where he left off in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring his second of the afternoon in the 48th minute. A successful kick from Del Pino put the Black Knights up 34-0.

John Sproul and Hargis scored the final two tries of the game for the Black Knights, as Andrew Borer converted both scores, and the Cadets earned the 48-0 win.

BONNIE'S LAST TIME OUT
St. Bonaventure met with No. 9 Penn State to open the season, falling to the Nittany Lions by a score of 23-10 on its home pitch.

Penn State started off strong, as sophomore wing Tyler May scored a try in the 13th minute. Another score in the 18th minute put the Nittany Lions up by 10. St. Bonaventure came back as fullback Dan Dillon scored a try and a conversion in the 37th minute, sending St. Bonaventure into the half down 10-7.

The Bonnies scored first in the second, with Dillon converting a penalty kick to tie the game at 10-10. Penn State scored a try in the 54th minute, a penalty kick in the 68th minute and another try in the 71st minute, ending the game with 13-point unanswered streak to claim the win.

ARMY WHO TO WATCH: MITCHELL SANDERSON
Sophomore Mitchell Sanderson made a big impact for the Black Knights in his first career start. The Waipahu, Hawaii, native brings physicality and athleticism to the pitch in the lock position.

"I think Sanderson had a great game," added Sherman. "He brings a nice blend of size and physicality and also athleticism and work rate. I hope he keeps doing more of the same."

FARGO NAMED D1A NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a two-score performance in the season-opener against Buffalo last weekend, Fargo has earned the distinction as the D1A National Player of the week.

RUGBY EAST DOMINANCE
The Black Knights have been a formidable foe in the Rugby East, capturing the title in 2014 and earning a perfect 7-0 conference record since the start of the 2014-15 season.

In the last seven Rugby East contests, the Black Knights have outscored opponents by an average of 38.6-18.1, never surrendering more than 30 points. Army has held three opponents to 15 points or less, including last weekend's blanking of Buffalo.

The 2015-16 squad features five of the eight All-Rugby East first team honorees from 2014-15. Fargo, Del Pino and Huff landed on the first team, while vice-captain Jacob Banarhall earned second-team recognition and Basnight garnered honorable mention honors.

RUGBY EAST EXPANSION
Rugby East teams will gain a new rival this season as the Mountaineers of West Virginia join the conference. The Mountaineers posted a successful 2014-15 season, capturing the Keystone Conference title in 15s action and qualifying for the USA Rugby College 7s National Championships.

Army will meet with West Virginia for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 10 as they travel to Morgantown, W.Va. for an afternoon matchup.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Black Knights find themselves in a familiar place, as they are currently slotted in the fifth spot of the Canterbury D1A National Rankings. Army spent a considerable amount of time as the nation's fifth-ranked team, opening the 2014-15 season in the same spot.

Army reached as high as No. 3, a ranking they held from Oct. 30, 2014-March 19, 2015.

The D1A Top 20 poll determines the 12 teams who advance into postseason play in the spring to play for a national championship. The Rugby East is well represented among the nation's top squads, boasting four of the top 15 programs. Army leads the way in the fifth spot, followed by Kutztown at No. 6, Wheeling Jesuit in the eighth spot and Penn State at No. 9.

RUGBY EAST STANDINGS
Through one week of competition, the Black Knights are atop the Rugby East standings, boasting a record of 1-0.

Also earning a mark of 1-0 is No. 8 Wheeling Jesuit and No. 9 Penn State.

Buffalo, St. Bonaventure and Iona all find themselves at the bottom of the pack at 0-1, while sixth-ranked Kutztown and West Virginia were both idle in week one.

MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
The 2015-16 squad will be captained by senior Goff, with Banarhall serving as the vice-captain.

Goff, a prop from Framingham, Mass., was not active on the fall 2014 roster due to injury. He rejoined the team in the spring, recording a score in Army's 37-0 victory over Seton Hall at the Four Leafs Tournament and earning the start in the team's meetings with UMass, Navy, St. Mary's and Davenport. He opened the 2015-16 season with a try against Buffalo, scoring in the 10th minute of action.

A native of Auburn, N.H., Banarhall earned the start in each of the team's nine fall contests. He recorded two scores in the fall, posting tries against Iona and Buffalo. During the spring, he tied for second on the team with five tries, earning two scores against Stony Brook in the title game of the Four Leafs Tournament. He led a second-half comeback in the match with Navy, scoring three times, including the game-tying score and go ahead marks. He was named to the All-Rugby East second team in the fall.

CADET CHAIN OF COMMAND
Three members of the men's rugby team have been elected into positions of leadership in the cadet chain of command, representing the largest contingent of any corps squad team at the Academy. Borer leads the way as the 4th Regimental Commander, while Hargis earns the title of 1st Regimental Command Sergeant Major and Goff serves as the 3rd Regimental Command Sergeant Major.

CLASS RINGS
The Class of 2016 received their class rings in a ceremony held at Trophy Point on Aug. 28, 2015. A time-honored West Point tradition, the Class of 2016's rings contain gold from 356 West Point graduates donated to the West Point Association of Graduates in addition to steel melted down from the World Trade Center.

FARGO TRAVELS TO NEW ZEALAND
Cow Andrew Fargo closed out his summer training at the Crusaders International High Performance Unit on the South Island of New Zealand, working alongside many international players.

Fargo, who led the Black Knights' spring 15s squad with six tries, had a spectacular sophomore campaign, earning All-Rugby East first team honors in the fall. He was tabbed the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the week following his performance in the win over UMass and his impressive score against Davenport earned him the Army Athletic Association Play of the Week. He recorded two tries in the season-opener against Buffalo last weekend.

Documenting his excursion, Fargo kept a blog of his experiences in the hot bed of international rugby. Visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for more information.

UP NEXT
Army will close out its home regular season schedule on Saturday, Sept. 26 as they host No. 8 Wheeling Jesuit in a Rugby East battle. The game will be broadcast live on Knight Vision with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. from Anderson Rugby Complex. The Black Knights will take to the road for the final five regular season contests, traveling to the American Collegiate Rugby Conference (ACRC) Bowl Series to cap off the year.