ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy men's rugby team (5-0, 2-0) once again overcame a slow start to defeat Kutztown (1-3, 0-3) by a score of 55-15 on Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis, Md.
 
The Mids scored eight tries in the contest to claim their first win over a Rugby East North Division opponent this season.
 
"We couldn't get into our flow today. We had some distributions early on and we have to learn how to overcome them to enforce our will in the game and any situation," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "Overall I thought we did okay. It's hard to be really critical of ourselves when we beat an opponent like Kutztown by 40 points, but again it's never about our opponents. It's about us and our journey. There were plenty of areas in that game that we will address this week that we have to get right knowing what's on the horizon next weekend. We have one shot against Life and we have to get it right with a big week of training."
 
Kutztown went on the attack early in the match, but tossed the ball out of bounds at the 10-meter line to award Navy a lineout in its offensive zone. Ben Haugh received a pass out of the won lineout and broke through a pair of tackles to gain over 30 meters. His effort advanced the ball down to the five-meter line, where the Mids were then awarded a scrum due to an offsides penalty against the Golden Bears. Navy attacked to the right out of the scrum and a carry by Sean MacLaney moved the ball less than a meter away from the try line. Andrew Baublitz received the next pass out of the breakdown and took two steps forward to score a try in the sixth minute to put the Mids ahead, 5-0.
 
A short clearing kick from Landon Opp after the score gave the Golden Bears a lineout inside their offensive 22-meter zone. Roanin Krieger stripped the ball away from Kutztown on its attack and Opp booted it back to midfield on a clearing kick. A penalty against the Mids gifted the Golden Bears a free kick in the 10th minute. Kutztown's kicker launched the ball back down inside the 22-meter zone on the attempt for a lineout. Vaughn Schmitz came up big by stealing the ball on the lineout to negate another scoring chance.
 
The Mids pushed the ball back to midfield and Haugh again provided a big carry. Navy's team captain had just one man to beat for a try, but the defender forced him to step out of bounds before crossing the try line to gift Kutztown a lineout at the five-meter line. The Golden Bears were penalized on the lineout because the throw-in attempt wasn't straight and the Mids were awarded a scrum. Navy charged near the try line after winning the scrum, but a penalty for not releasing voided the chance for a score in the 14th minute.
 
Kutztown kept the ball out of its defensive 22-meter zone over the next 10 minutes, but another steal by Navy put them in scoring position. The Mids surged inside the 22-meter zone with multiple offloads following the turnover. Navy pounded the ball down to the five-meter line and Haugh split two defenders to score a try in the 25th minute. Krieger nailed the conversion kick to give the Mids a 12-0 lead.
 
The Mids held possession inside their offensive 22-meter zone multiple times over the next nine minutes, but penalties and turnovers halted their attack. The Golden Bears committed a knock-on penalty in the 34th minute near the 10-meter line, which prevented them from clearing the ball back into their offensive zone. Krieger moved the ball near the 22-meter line on a rush attempt and sent a short kick down toward the left sideline. The ball was scooped up by Avion Ganse and an offsides foul against Kutztown allowed Navy to attempt a penalty kick. Krieger put the kick through the uprights from 25-meters out in the 37th minute to extend the lead to 15-0.
 
The Golden Bears began to find success offensively in the 38th minute after a linebreak moved the ball inside their offensive 22-meter zone. Kutztown tried to quickly attack with Navy out of position defensively, but a dropped pass resulted in a knock-on penalty. Strong carries from MacLaney and Ganse after the scrum advanced the Mids past the 10-meter line in their offensive zone. Opp received the next pass after the breakdown and kicked it down toward the left sideline inside the 22-meter zone. The ball was picked up by JD Bengston before going out of bounds and he slipped past the lone Kutztown defender in his way to score a try just before the 40th minute. Krieger hit his second conversion kick to make the score, 20-0, at intermission.
 
A short clearing kick from the Golden Bears set up a lineout for the Mids at the 22-meter line less than a minute into the second half. Navy was awarded a free kick from a penalty against Kutztown and Opp sent the ball down to the five-meter line. The Mids formed a maul after winning the lineout and a player for the Golden Bears was issued a yellow card in the 42nd minute due to his actions defending the maul. Opp took advantage of the defense having one less player by finding a big hole during his attack to score a try in the 44th minute. Krieger made another conversion kick to give Navy a 27-point advantage.
 
The Golden Bears caught the Mids off guard with a short kickoff after the score and recovered the ball to establish possession in their offensive zone. Kutztown was granted a penalty kick after Navy was called for not rolling away on a tackle. The Golden Bears put their first points on the scoreboard with a successful kick in the 47th minute to make the score, 27-3.
 
The Mids also used a high and short kickoff to gain possession in their offensive zone after the penalty kick. Baublitz quickly went on the attack after recovering the ball and charged into the 22-meter zone. Navy initially began to attack the left half of the pitch and Opp fooled Kutztown by passing back inside to Russell, who sprinted over 15 meters to score a try just 52 seconds after the penalty kick. Krieger extended the lead to 34-3 with his successful conversion kick.
 
Multiple penalties against the Mids allowed the Golden Bears to drive inside their offensive 22-meter zone by the 54th minute. Kutztown sent the ball down to the five-meter line with a free kick after Navy was penalized for collapsing a scrum. The Golden Bears won the lineout on the right sideline and passed the ball across to the other end of the pitch where nobody was in position to make a tackle for the Mids. The open space allowed Kutztown to score its first try in the 55th minute to cut Navy's lead down to 34-8.
 
A short clearing kick from the Golden Bears set up a lineout for the Mids at their offensive 10-meter line shortly after the score. Navy found its first success on its maul attack and plunged into the 22-meter zone in the 57th minute. A penalty on the Golden Bears gifted the Mids a free kick and Opp booted the attempt out of bounds just outside the five-meter line. William Webb moved the ball close to try zone with the maul attack and MacLaney eventually reached across the line for a score in the 59th minute. Krieger made the ensuing conversion kick to give Navy a 41-8 cushion.
 
Kutztown advanced the ball near the 22-meter line in its offensive zone just before the 63rd minute. Navy once again became physical on the breakdown and stole away possession. Baublitz then received a pass from Jack Aleman and he dashed down the right sideline to gain over 40 meters. The touch judge determined Baublitz stepped out of bounds as he was tackled near the 22-meter line to grant the Golden Bears a lineout. Navy quickly gained back possession after Kutztown was issued a penalty for not releasing during its attack. Opp sent the free kick out of bounds right at the five-meter line to form a lineout. Michael Kalalau was shoved across the try line with the maul attack for another score in the 67th minute. Krieger put the Mids up by 40 points with the made conversion kick.
 
The Golden Bears had two opportunities to go on the attack with a pair of lineouts in their offensive zone, but both throw-in attempts were penalized for not being straight. Kade Willaims kicked the ball across the field with a clear attempt and Kutztown did the same to send the ball back into Navy's defensive half of the pitch. The kick was caught by Ganse near the 22-meter line and he gained over 50 meters with a huge run on the kick return. He offloaded the ball to Baublitz as he crossed the 22-meter line in Navy's offensive zone. Baublitz juked both of the defenders in his way after receiving the ball to score his second try of the contest in the 72nd minute. Krieger put another conversion kick through the uprights to put Navy in front, 55-8.
 
Kutztown capped off the scoring in the match with a converted try in the 78th minute.
 
Krieger led the Mids in scoring with 15 points on six made conversion kicks and a penalty kick. The sophomore continues to maintain his spot as Navy's leading scorer with 78 points this season. His six successful conversion kicks raised his total to 31 made this season.
 
Baublitz scored his fifth and sixth tries of the season to contribute 10 points. He is now second on the team in tries scored this season with six.
 
Haugh held his spot as Navy's leader in tries scored with his seventh of the season to finish with five points. He has now scored a try in three-straight matches.
 
Bengston and Opp also contributed a try for the third-straight game. Both players scored their fourth try of the 2023-24 campaign.  
 
Russell found the try zone for the third time this season, while MacLaney was credited with his second try.
 
Kalalau's late score was the first try of his career.
 
Navy plays its first true road match of the season against Rugby East newcomer Life next Saturday in Marietta, Ga. Kickoff against the Running Eagles is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Box Score
First Half
6:05 - Try - Navy - Andrew Baublitz (5-0)
 
25:09 - Try - Navy - Ben Haugh (10-0)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (12-0)
 
37:00 - Penalty Kick - Navy - Roanin Krieger (15-0)
 
39:47 - Try - Navy - JD Bengston (20-0)
 
Second Half
44:16 - Try - Navy - Landon Opp (25-0)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (27-0)
 
47:35 - Penalty Kick - Kutztown (27-3)
 
48:27 - Try - Navy - Tanner Russell (32-3)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (34-3)
 
55:18 - Try - Kutztown (34-8)
 
59:18 - Try - Navy - Sean MacLaney (39-8)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (41-8)
 
67:55 - Try - Navy - Michael Kalalau (46-8)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (48-8)
 
72:58 - Try - Navy - Andrew Baublitz (53-8)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (55-8)
 
78:15 - Try - Kutztown (55-13)
Conversion Kick - Kutztown (55-15)