MARIETTA, Ga. - A try from Sean MacLaney with under 10 minutes remaining was the difference maker for the Navy men's rugby team (6-0, 3-0) in its, 20-14, win against Life (1-1, 1-1) on Saturday at Lupo Family Field in Marietta, Ga.
 
The Mids claimed their first win against the Running Eagles in team history. The match also marked the first meeting between the two programs as conference foes.
 
"We are happy with the win on the road. This is our first victory over Life and our team was outstanding," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "We rose to the challenge of being on the road against a formidable opponent and we came out on top due to our refusal to quit. It's exciting as we continue to grow as a team."
 
An early penalty on Navy awarded Life a free kick from midfield. The Running Eagles booted it out of bounds inside their offensive 22-meter zone to move into scoring position. Life mishandled the lineout throw and was issued a knock-on penalty to take away an early scoring chance.
 
Navy flipped the field in the eighth minute with a clearing kick that bounced all the way down to the five-meter line in its offensive zone. Life sent a clearing kick right back and it was returned by Roanin Krieger to the 10-meter line. Landon Opp then booted a kick down to the 22-meter line and it was caught by a Running Eagle. As the ball carrier tried to move upfield, JD Bengston forced him out of bounds to earn the Mids a lineout. Navy marched near the five-meter line, but was issued a penalty to negate its first scoring opportunity.
 
The Mids quickly regained possession after a short clearing kick from the Running Eagles. Navy formed a maul after controlling the lineout and charged into its offensive 22-meter zone. Life was then called for a penalty on the maul to set up a free kick for Opp. He sent the kick out of bounds just outside the five-meter line. The Mids lost the ball on a dropped pass, but claimed possession right back after the Running Eagles committed a penalty during their scrum. Jack Aleman caught a pass from Krieger out of the maul and he squeezed between two defenders to score a try in the 14th minute. Krieger then made the conversion kick to give Navy a 7-0 lead.
 
Neither club was able to put themselves in a good position to score until late in the first half. A penalty against the Mids during their attack granted a free kick to the Running Eagles. Life's kicker booted the ball out of bounds near the five-meter line. The Running Eagles were forced back due to a poor throw on the lineout, but bulldozed themselves back down to the five-meter line with a strong attack. Life committed a costly knock-on penalty during its push for the try zone, which prevented a potential score. The Mids held strong defensively for the remainder of the half to take a seven-point lead into the locker room.  
 
Neither team could find an edge in the territory battle again until the 46th minute. Life was called for a penalty during its attack at its offensive 10-meter line to grant Navy a free kick. Opp launched the kick inside the 22-meter zone and the Mids pushed inside the five-meter line with a pair of mauls. The Running Eagles were called for a penalty defending the try line and coach Hickie chose to attempt a penalty kick to try and take a two-score lead. Krieger nailed the short kick in the 49th minute to put Navy ahead, 10-0.
 
Life plunged into its offensive zone shortly after the penalty kick thanks to a long gain on a maul. The Running Eagles then sent a clearing kick down to the five-meter line in its offensive half of the pitch and the Mids sent a kick right back. Life gained over 15 meters on the kick return and found itself in its offensive 22-meter zone for the first time in the second half. The Running Eagles were then awarded a scrum about seven-meters away from the try zone following a penalty against the Mids. Navy remained firm defensively for a few moments, but Life eventually snuck the ball down across the try line in the 54th minute for its first points of the contest.
 
Opp caught a clearing kick from the Running Eagles following the score and he quickly tossed the ball to Avion Ganse. Ganse received the ball behind the 10-meter line in Navy's defensive zone and burst up the middle of the pitch to advance the ball to the 22-meter line on a carry of nearly 40 meters. Life briefly regained possession on a knock-on penalty and looked to use a clearing kick to get out of its defensive zone. The kick failed to reach the midfield line, allowing Navy to stay in its offensive zone. The Running Eagles were called for a penalty on a tackle to award another penalty kick to the Mids. Krieger sent the kick through the uprights in the 60th minute to give Navy a 13-7 advantage.
 
Krieger attempted his third penalty kick of the contest a few minutes later for a chance to give the Mids a two-score lead again. His kick from just in front of the midfield line sailed to the left to keep the score at 13-7.
 
Navy held the ball at its offensive 10-meter line after a clearing kick from Life. The Mids committed a costly turnover to allow the Running Eagles to go on the offensive. Life's scrum half fooled Navy with a fake pass to the left and kept the ball himself to gain over 20 meters on the carry. A penalty on the Mids granted the Running Eagles a free kick and their kicker booted the ball out of bounds inside the 22-meter zone. Navy intercepted the lineout to go back on offense, but Life made a great defensive play of its own by stripping the ball away to reclaim possession. The Running Eagles attacked toward the right sideline and Bengston forced another turnover by tackling the ball carrier out of bounds. Navy initially forced the attacking line back with a clearing kick, but a huge return by Life pushed the ball back inside the 22-meter zone. The Running Eagles charged inside the five-meter line and punched the ball into the try zone just before the 67th minute. Life made the ensuing conversion kick to take a 14-13 lead and put Navy behind on the scoreboard for the first time this season.
 
An excellent kickoff by Krieger forced the Running Eagles to have to kick the ball back from their defensive try zone. Navy recovered the kick at midfield and was gifted a free kick from a penalty against Life. Opp booted the ball out of bounds a few meters away from the 22-meter line. The Mids overwhelmed the Running Eagles on the maul and received another free kick from a penalty. Opp's kick allowed Navy to form a lineout inside the five-meter line. MacLaney took the ball out of the maul and ran through three defenders to score the go-ahead try in the 70th minute. Krieger made a huge conversion kick to put the Mids back in front, 20-14.
 
Missed tackles led to a line break and a 30-meter carry for Life to go on the attack inside its offensive 22-meter zone in the 77th minute. The Running Eagles continued to pound the ball forward and the Mids were then forced to retreat back due to a penalty. Life performed a tap-and-go to plow inside the five-meter line. However, the Running Eagles were called for a foul on the breakdown to award the Mids a scrum. Navy used a series of short attacks to run out the clock and hold on for a thrilling 20-14 win.
 
Krieger was a huge factor in the kicking game. The sophomore accounted for half of Navy's points on his two penalty kicks and two conversion kicks. He leads the Mids in points (88), conversion kicks (33) and penalty kicks (4) this season.
 
Aleman scored his first try since Navy became a varsity program.
 
MacLaney found the try zone for the third-straight match. He now has three tries during the 2023-24 campaign.  
 
Navy returns home to take on St. Bonaventure next Saturday in a match that will have major implications on who will win the Rugby East North Division title. The Mids and Bonnies will kickoff at noon at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis, Md.
 
Box Score
First Half
14:04 - Try - Navy - Jack Aleman (5-0)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (7-0)
 
Second Half
49:01 - Penalty Kick - Navy - Roanin Krieger (10-0)
 
54:40 - Try - Life (10-5)
Conversion Kick - Life (10-7)
 
60:10 - Penalty Kick - Navy - Roanin Krieger (13-7)
 
66:54 - Try - Life (13-12)
Conversion Kick - Life (13-14)
 
70:30 - Try - Navy - Sean MacLaney (18-14)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (20-14)