Annapolis, Md. – Navy men's rugby (4-0, 3-0) plays its first match on the road this Friday for a non-conference matchup with rival Air Force. The two teams will meet in Glendale, Colo., and compete for the Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Rugby Cup. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT, 10 p.m. ET.
 
"We're a quarter of the way through our fall season and very excited to get out on the road to Colorado. We shift our focus from conference play to our rivalry against Air Force and playing for the Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Cup which means a huge amount to us," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "We have a tough task, as we are in the middle of six-week exams and travel to Colorado on Friday and play that evening at Infinity Park in Glendale. However, as the current holders, we will travel out to Air Force with the Lt. Col Kevin Shea Memorial Cup with us and we have every intention of bringing him home to Annapolis with us on Saturday. Go Navy, beat Air Force!"
 
Recap of Mary Washington
Navy had to use a different style of play in its 18-3 win over the Mary Washington Eagles. After scoring 50+ points in their first three matches, the Mids faced a tough Mary Washington defense that made them battle for every inch.

Navy managed to get on the offensive after a missed penalty kick by Mary Washington and drove down the pitch to set up for a scrum just outside the try zone. Navy won the scrum and a quick pass out to Ben Haugh gave Navy its first try in the 16^th minute to take a 5-0 lead. Mary Washington scored its first and only points with a penalty kick in the 28^th minute, but Roanin Krieger answered with a penalty kick for Navy in the 31^st minute to make the score 8-3 at the half.
 
Krieger gave Navy some breathing room with another penalty kick in the 58^th minute to make it a two-score game, and a try from Lewis Gray in the 77^th minute gave Navy the dagger score for its fourth straight win.
 
Defense Holds Strong
Navy's offense has been the major story to begin its varsity campaign, but Navy showed its defense is just as strong. Mary Washington held possession for 60 percent of the match, was in Navy's territory for 56 percent of the match and had six more attacking minutes. The Eagles also had 526 more meters carried and 274 more meters gained than Navy.
 
Despite the numbers being in Mary Washington's favor, the Mids' defense still didn't allow the Eagles to find the try zone once the entire match. Even when Mary Washington was inches from scoring, Navy pushed them back and defended its zone to showcase its toughness and composure.
 
Navy has allowed just 15 points in conference play to this point, the second-fewest in the Rugby East. St. Bonaventure has allowed a league-low 13 but has only played two matches. Among teams that have played three matches, Army is the only team remotely close to Navy with 44 points surrendered.
 
Freshman Answers Big Moments
Freshman Roanin Krieger has been a centerpiece of Navy's team at fullback. On Saturday, Krieger came up big for the Mids by scoring a team-leading eight points on two penalty kicks and a conversion kick. Krieger's penalty kicks were vital for Navy to create separation from Mary Washington and take pressure off of Navy's defense. Krieger is currently Navy's third-best scorer on the year with 26 points.
 
Gray and Haugh Continue to Score
Lewis Gray and Ben Haugh both found the try zone last week to continue their impressive scoring seasons. Gray scored his team-leading ninth try of the season to bring his point total to 77. Haugh scored his sixth try of the season and now stands as Navy's second-best scorer this season with 30 points.
 
Gray also stands as the top scorer in the Rugby East, leading the conference in tries (seven), conversion kicks (11) and total points (57).
 
Updated Standings
Although Navy won a crucial match to earn another four points in the Rugby East standings, rival Army managed to earn five with a win and scoring more than four tries. Army now leads the conference with 15 points, but Navy is right behind in second with 14. Kutztown stands at third with ten, and St. Bonaventure is fourth with nine. Army (3-0), Navy (3-0) and St. Bonaventure (2-0) are the only remaining undefeated teams in the Rugby East.
 
Lt. Col. Kevin Shea Memorial Rugby Cup
Friday's contest is more than just a match between two rival programs. Navy and Air Force will compete for the Shea Memorial Rugby Cup in honor of Lt. Col. Kevin Shea.
 
Shea graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1989, where he lettered in football and played rugby. He played in the 1987 Freedom Bowl and was a member of Air Force's 1989 rugby team which won the collegiate national championship. He was commissioned into the Marine Corps after graduation and served in the Gulf War. He was promoted to the rank of Major in 1999. He continued his rugby career as a player with the All-Marine and Combined Services rugby teams.
 
Shea earned a master of science degree in electrical engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in California and went on to teach electrical engineering at the Naval Academy. While in Annapolis, Shea also served as an assistant coach of Navy's men's rugby team from 2000-03. The Class of 2003 selected him as an honorary graduate of the Naval Academy. After his time at the Naval Academy, he reported to the 1st Marine Division and deployed to Iraq as the regimental communications officer for 1st Marines. Major Shea was selected for Lt. Col. while deployed and was to take command of the 9th Communications Battalion. Shea was KIA on Sept. 14, 2004, his 38^th birthday.
 
He was nominated for a Bronze Star with Valor prior to his death.
 
Up Next
Navy returns home to get back into Rugby East competition against Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoff versus the Nittany Lions is scheduled for noon at the Prusmack Rugby Complex.