Black Knights Power Past Running Eagles

Saturday, April 16

West Point, NY

12 P.M.

Army West Point

Life University

Black Knights Power Past Running Eagles

April 16, 2022 | Men's Rugby

Photo Gallery

WEST POINT, N.Y. --- Army West Point Men's Rugby (13-1) powered past Life University (5-5) in the USA Rugby D1A Quarterfinals, 39-18, on Saturday afternoon, at the Anderson Rugby Complex.

Koikoi Nelligan led the Black Knights with two tries while Sean McNulty finished with seven points off conversions.

How It Happened

The Running Eagles attacked first scoring a try and a conversion in the eighth minute of the match to lead 7-0 over the Black Knights. Army fought back by taking advantage of a penalty try to get tie the game up at 7-7. Nelligan get the momentum going as he found the try-zone giving Army the 12-7 advantage at the 24^th minute.

The Black Knights kept the Running Eagles off the board for almost 30 minutes in the first half, but Life found a scoring opportunity off a penalty kick, 12-10. Just before the end of the half, Collin Grosse broke through to the try-zone for the Cadets. McNulty capitalized on the conversion extending Army's lead to 19-10.

In the second half of the match, Army only allowed Life eight points in the 40-minute span. The first three points of Life's eight came from a penalty kick in the 49^th minute. The Black Knights took over for the next eight minutes scoring 13 points. Nelligan started the spurt with his second try of the contest, followed by a penalty kick off the foot of McNulty. Matthew Meehan scored the final try of the run, making the score 32-13.

Life scored one final try in the 74^th minute before Nate Gould closed the door on the Running Eagles with a try. McNulty nailed the door shut with a conversion making the final score 39-18.

Quotables
"The first time our team beat Life in program history was just over a month ago. To advance in the playoffs we had to beat them again. They are an incredibly talented team, and it was a pleasure to face off against them. The excitement of a win in the playoffs is massive, whoever we face next week will be another challenge. However, the biggest challenge and our team's focus is internal, finding the best way for us to improve so that next week we can enjoy the same excitement." - Ben Kelly

"The brothers on the field did a great job today taking down a tough opponent. However, the win can't be put on those wearing the jersey. The whole program, numbers 1 through 60 have worked so hard throughout this entire year to prepare those to take the field. Everyone in the program is on board and we all earned an extra week together. Also, the support from the corps was outstanding and taking their time out of their day. Hope to see everyone down at the rugby field next Friday night." - Drew Dunham

Up Next
Army will host the USA Rugby D1A Semifinals on Friday, April 22, at 7 p.m.

Follow Along
Join Army men's rugby fans on social media and follow the Black Knights throughout their 2021 season on Twitter (@armywp_mrugby), Instagram (@armywp_mrugby) and Facebook (Army West Point Men's Rugby Page).