No. 5 Men’s Rugby to Host No. 9 Wheeling Jesuit

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Closing out the home portion of the 2015-16 regular season, the fifth-ranked Army West Point men's rugby team will host No. 9 and Rugby East opponent Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday in an afternoon battle from Anderson Rugby Complex.

The game will be the final of a three-game home stretch for the Black Knights, who have blanked both Buffalo and St. Bonaventure to open up the year.

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 Zack Daly 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 Army West Point men's rugby team closes out home action as they welcome ninth-ranked Wheeling Jesuit for an afternoon matchup at Anderson Rugby Complex. Army enters the contest with a mark of 2-0 on the season, claiming back-to-back shutout wins over Buffalo and St. Bonaventure in the first two matches of a three-game homestand. Wheeling Jesuit posts a record of 1-1, earning a season-opening win over Iona but falling to then ninth-ranked Penn State by a score of 38-33.

"I thought our performances have been pretty strong in our first two games," said head coach Matt Sherman. "For me, the most pleasing aspect was the improvement of performance two from performance one and I hope we can continue to improve at that clip.

"I think Wheeling Jesuit has a couple of very talented individual players and obviously they're doing things cohesively as a team to have success. I don't know if that makes them any different from our previous opponents, but our primary focus is, again, improving at the same clip we have before or even better."

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 two squads last met in the final regular season game of the 2014 fall season, as Army capped off an unbeaten regular season with a 34-29 victory on the road.

Despite allowing Wheeling Jesuit to remain close, the Army defense held strong in the final minutes of action following three straight scores from the Cardinals.

Wheeling Jesuit opened up the scoring in the ninth minute, taking the early 7-0 advantage. From that point, the Black Knights dominated play deep into the second half.

Cody Brown scored first for Army, recording a try in the 13th minute. David Huff would follow suit, giving the Black Knights the 10-7 advantage through 20 minutes of play.

In the 28th minute, Wheeling Jesuit tied the game up with a penalty kick, but a try from Collum Magee and a successful kick from Andrew Borer in the 31st minute would send the Black Knights into the break with the 17-10 advantage.

Army picked up right where it left off in the second half with Andrew Fargo scoring in the 44th minute to put the Black Knights up 22-10. In the 53rd minute Borer would add his second try of the season, also converting the kick, to put Army up by 19.

Andy Sullivan capped of the Army scoring in the 60th minute, putting the Black Knights up 34-10.

Wheeling Jesuit would rattle off three straight scores in the waning minutes of the second half, getting within five of the Army lead, but the Black Knights' defense held strong, lifting the team to its eighth straight victory.

ARMY'S LAST TIME OUT
The fifth-ranked Black Knights are riding high off of a 55-0 blanking of Rugby East rival St. Bonaventure. The game was the second consecutive shutout victory over a conference opponent to open the season.

Nine different players found the scoresheet as the Black Knights continued their conference success.
Jake Lachina opened up the scoring in the fourth minute as Thomas Del Pino converted the try to put the Black Knights up 7-0.

Lachina scored again in the 12th minute to put the Cadets up 12-0.

Andrew Fargo posted a try in the 27th minute with Del Pino booting the kick to put Army up 19-0. He earned another try in the 34th minute, followed by a score from Peter Basnight in the 40th to send Army into the break with a 29-0 lead.

John Sproul recorded a try in the opening minutes of the second half, with Del Pino earning his third conversion of the evening.

Andrew Irwin scored in the 63rd to put the Cadets up 41-0.

Logan Weiland earned a score in the 70th minute and Ammon Tuimaunei posted his first career score in the 75th, with Andrew Borer converting both kicks, sending Army to the 55-0 win.

WHEELING JESUIT'S LAST TIME OUT
Then eighth-ranked Wheeling Jesuit dropped a 38-33 decision over Rugby East power and then ninth-ranked Penn State on Saturday to move to 1-1 on the season.

Penn State was able to take advantage of eight penalty kicks from Jimmy Ronan to push forward for the win. The teams exchanged the lead four times in the first half, before heading into the break knotted up at 16-16.

Wheeling Jesuit pulled within two points with six minutes remaining in the game, but couldn't find the try zone again as the Nittany Lions improved to 2-0.

For Wheeling Jesuit, Zach Reichenbach, Andrew Waggoner, Michael Fitzpatrick and Max Lum each scored tries while Brandon Stine notched three penalty kicks and two conversions.

ARMY WHO TO WATCH: DAVID HUFF
Last season's leading scorer Huff returned to the pitch on Saturday against St. Bonaventure, making his 2015-16 season debut.

"It's great to have Huff back, not only because he's a finisher, but he just adds a bit of x-factor," said Sherman. "We have depth at every position and I'd say one of the best positives of having him back is that it provides more competition."

In his rookie campaign, the Anchorage, Alaska native earned 15 career tries (combined spring and fall), earning All-Rugby East first team recognition and All-ACRC honorable mention honors. In the fall, he earned the start in all nine contests, leading the team with 11 tries and scoring in all but one game. In the spring he finished fourth on the team with four tries, posting a pair in the 36-0 victory over American in the Four Leafs Tournament, recording the go ahead score in the 41-24 win over service academy foe Navy and earning a try in the opening minutes of the loss to top-ranked St. Mary's.

FARGO NAMED D1A NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a two-score performance in the season-opener against Buffalo, Fargo earned the distinction as the D1A National Player of the week on Sept. 17. He now leads the Black Knights with four tries on the season, scoring a pair in each of the opening two games.

Last season, the Del Mar, Calif., native was named to the All-Rugby East first team squad, garnered All-ACRC first team recognition, was selected to play for the All-Army team at the Las Vegas 7s 2015 Men's ACR Tournament, was named the AAA Athlete of the Week once during the spring and scored a try against Davenport, which earned AAA Play of the Week. He's recorded 14 career tries since joining the Army Athletic Association in August of 2014.

RUGBY EAST DOMINANCE
The Black Knights have been a formidable foe in the Rugby East, capturing the title in 2014 and earning a perfect 8-0 conference record since the start of the 2014-15 season.

In the last eight Rugby East contests, the Black Knights have outscored opponents by an average of 40.6-15.9, never surrendering more than 30 points. Army has held four opponents to 15 points or less, including both shutouts to open the season.

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, Penn State at No. 8 and Wheeling Jesuit in the ninth spot.

RUGBY EAST STANDINGS
Through two weeks of competition, the Black Knights are atop the Rugby East standings, boasting a record of 2-0. Penn State falls in second, also with a mark of 2-0.

Both Wheeling Jesuit and Iona have competed to marks of 1-1, while St. Bonaventure and Buffalo find themselves at the bottom of the pack with records of 0-2.

Kutztown and West Virginia have both been idle in conference action.

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
The Black Knights will hit the road for the first of five trips to conclude the season. They'll face a tough battle as they travel to eighth-ranked Penn State for a Friday evening matchup with the Nittany Lions. Last season Army edged then sixth-ranked Penn State by a mark of 19-15 from Anderson Rugby Complex in its first of four victories over top-15 teams.

Following the trip to Penn State, Army will continue its road slate, traveling to West Virginia, Iona, Kutztown and Air Force.

No. 5 Men’s Rugby to Host No. 9 Wheeling Jesuit

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Players Mentioned

Jacob Banarhall

Peter Basnight

Andrew Borer

Andrew Borer

Cody Brown

Thomas Del Pino

Andrew Fargo

Andrew Fargo

David Huff

Andrew Irwin

Jake Lachina

Collum Magee

John Sproul

Andy Sullivan

Ammon Tuimaunei

Logan Weiland

Army West Point Athletics