ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a top five battle to open the spring, the No. 2 Navy men's rugby team (11-1) routed No. 4 California (7-1), 27-3, on Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis.

"It was a really good win. It was our first game since November and to wait all that time to face one of the top teams in the country, it was excellent," said Naval Academy Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie.

"Obviously there's still room for improvement, but we challenged ourselves to hit the ground running and to pick up where we left off," continued Hickie. "We will enjoy this tonight, but come Monday we will focus on Penn State. I'm very happy with the team's performance today."

The Golden Bears opened the match with their offense making an early trip inside the Midshipmen 22-meter zone. A knock-on penalty by Navy allowed California to attempt a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead in the ninth-minute mark.

The Mids made their first trip inside the Golden Bears 22-meter zone in the 13th-minute, but a non-release penalty called on Navy halted its first promising drive.

After 10 minutes of back-and-forth action Cal reached the Midshipmen 5-meter zone and looked to extend its lead. A maul formed from a line out had the Golden Bears in scoring position, but Navy's strong defense forced a turnover to prevent the try.

Navy's stout defense continued when they intercepted a lineout attempt in California's own 22-meter zone.

Navy's offense drove into the 5-meter zone for the first time in the 39th-minute. The Mids mauled their way into the try zone but was penalized for being held up and not getting the spike down.

California ended the first half with a failed penalty kick in the 40th-minute.

Navy would tie the match at 3 in the 50th-minute with a penalty kick from Roanin Krieger. The scoring opportunity was set up from a pair of Golden Bears penalties.

In the 55th-minute mark, Cal was penalized for a knock-on penalty near the Mids 10-meter line for a Navy scrum. Krieger secured a pass from the scrum and located an open Max Smith who scampered in for the first try of the day.

The Golden Bears forced a turnover on the resuming kick and was threatening inside the Mids' 5-meter zone for the second time. Navy's defense held strong keeping California's offense out of the try zone.

Aidan Gerber found the try zone in the 66th-minute after a long run from Edmund Soeder set up the scoring chance. Deep in the Golden Bears 22-meter zone, Gerber kicked the ball through the defense to fall in for the score. Krieger added two more points on the conversion kick to make the score, 17-3.

After a second Krieger penalty kick in the 75th-minute, the Mids capped off the match with a second try from Max Smith in the 83rd-minute.

Navy will hit the road next Saturday when it takes on No. 13 Penn State. The match is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at University Park, Pa.
 
Box Score
No. 2 Navy 27, No. 4 California 3
8:40 – Penalty Kick – California 0-3
 
49:15 – Penalty kick – Navy – Roanin Krieger 3-3
 
55:57 – Try – Navy – Max Smith 8-3
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger 10-3
 
67:45 – Try – Navy – Aidan Gerber 15-3
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger 17-3
 
74:20 – Penalty kick – Roanin Krieger 20-3
 
82:40 – Try – Navy – Max Smith 25-3
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger 27-3