ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a battle between the top-two Rugby East teams, the Navy men's rugby team (3-0, 2-0 Rugby East) plays host to Life (2-0, 2-0 Rugby East) on Saturday. The game between the Mids and Running Eagles is slated to begin at 10 a.m. at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis.
Fans can follow the action with free live video coverage on the
Navy Athletics YouTube channel and navysports.com.
Notes for Fans Attending
There is no admission charge for rugby games at the Prusmack Rugby Center.
Spectator parking is available in the lots on the north side of the Brigade Sports Complex (64 Greenbury Point Road, Annapolis, MD 21402). Overflow parking is available in the open space on the west side of the facility.
Alcohol consumption is prohibited at the Prusmack Rugby Center and surrounding parking areas.
Krieger Featured in Navy Sports Magazine
Roanin Krieger joined
Tim Nolan on the Navy Sports Magazine show this week to preview the big game against Life and share his journey to the Naval Academy. Fans can watch the interview on the
Navy Athletics YouTube channel.
Last Time Out: vs. Mount St. Mary's
Navy scored 42-consecutive points to overcome a halftime deficit (16-10) and rolled past Mount St. Mary's (59-19) last weekend in Annapolis. The Midshipmen outscored the Mountaineers 49-3 in the second half.
Andrew Baublitz led the team with two tries while
Liam Gray,
Dalton Sand,
Aidan Bryan,
Ian Bullock and
Max Smith each ran in a try. The Mids' kicking game was nearly perfect as Krieger made all eight conversions after tries and one of his two penalty kick attempts.
Navy Notes
- Dating back to last season, Navy has won four-consecutive Rugby East games by a combined score of 233-58. The Mids' offense has averaged 58.2 points per game during their conference winning streak.
- The Midshipmen are off to a 3-0 start for the fourth-straight season and have won by at least 36 points in every game this year.
- Saturday will end the Mids' four-game homestand to start the season.
- Freshman Liam Gray recorded his first-career try in the 78th minute against Mount St. Mary's to add a late exclamation point to Navy's impressive second-half performance.
- Baublitz now leads the team in tries (4) after his season-best performance against the Mountaineers.
- Navy has showcased impressive depth and balance throughout the early portion of the season, as 13 different players have scored at least one try.
- Krieger leads the team in total points (72), conversion kicks (21) and penalty kicks (5), while also sitting on top of the conference in scoring (47). His kicking has been nearly automatic for Navy as he is 21-for-22 (95%) on conversions this season.
- Trevor Gayron led the defensive effort against Mount St. Mary's with a team-high seven tackles to help stifle the Mountaineers' second-half attack.
Scouting Life
- Life enters the game with a 2-0 record, which includes victories over Rugby East foes Army (35-7) and Penn State (52-14).
- The Running Eagles finished last season with a 14-2 record and reached the D1A National Championship where they lost to California, 55-38.
- Saturday's contest will be Life's first road test of the season. The Running Eagles posted a 4-1 road record last year, with the one loss coming in a narrow 29-26 defeat at the hands of Queens.
- Jonty Lee leads the team in scoring with 20 points from 10 conversion kicks (both rank second in the Rugby East). James Rose and Jordan Vassel have each scored three tries this year to pace Life's attack.
- The Running Eagles' Director of Men's Rugby Blake Bradford is in his 11th season with the program.
Navy vs. Life
- Since the program elevated to varsity status, Navy holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series against Life.
- Life snapped Navy's 20-game winning streak over Rugby East opponents last year, defeating the Mids, 23-20, in Annapolis. Navy erased a 17-0 deficit against the Running Eagles, as Gerber and Sand each scored second-half tries to tie the game at 20-20, before a walk-off penalty kick sealed the victory for Life.
