ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The second-ranked Navy men's rugby team (15-1) continues its postseason push on Saturday when it plays host to third-ranked Lindenwood (34-3-1) in the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) Division I-A Playoff Quarterfinals. Kickoff at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis is scheduled for noon.
Fans can stream the match for free on the Navy Athletics YouTube Page with the link provided on navysports.com.
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the semifinals on April 19 to face the winner of top-seeded Life and fourth-seeded Army.
Notes for Traveling Fans
- There is no admission charge for rugby matches 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 surrounding parking areas.
Playoff First Round Recap
The Midshipmen dominated both sides of the ball to defeat No. 15 Penn State 45-7 in the first round of the CRAA Division I-A Playoffs last Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center.
The Nittany Lions' offense attacked early and scored the first try just over 2 minutes into the match.
The Mids' defense was able to settle down and forced a turnover that fell in the lap of
Ian Bullock inside Navy's 22-meter zone. Bullock ran in his second try this season in the sixth minute.
The Mids cashed in on a second Penn State turnover as
AJ Young scooped-and-scored a loose ball from 50-meters out to score his fifth try this season in the 13th minute.
Navy opened up the second half by picking up where it left off as
Ryan Hotaling came off the bench to run in a try in the 44th minute. A third conversion kick from
Roanin Krieger extended the Mids' lead to 26-7.
Max Smith got in on the scoring onslaught with a pair of tries in the 60th and 64th minutes to put the match away at 45-7.
Navy Notes
- Navy boasts a 6-0 all-time home playoff record. The Mids have averaged 35.3 points per game and allowed just 8.7 point per game in home playoff matches.
- Navy is averaging 40.7 points per game this season. The Midshipmen have scored at least 40 points in eight matches this year.
- The Mids' defense has been tenacious during the spring season as they held their opponents to under 10 points in three of the five matches and forced 90 turnovers.
- Navy has been penalized 10 or fewer times in four of its last five games.
- Krieger leads the team with 184 total points this season. He enters Saturday's match having scored a try in each of the last two games.
- Krieger has drilled a career-best 24 penalty kicks this season, his 51 conversion kicks mark the second-most in his career (70).
- Sophomore Andrew Baublitz (14) is the lone Midshipmen with 10 or more tries this year.
- Senior team captains JD Bengston and William Webb have each scored six tries this season. Bengston's six scores are tied for his career-best for a season and Webb is one try away from tying his personal-best in a year.
Scouting Lindenwood
- The Lions enter Saturday's match with a 34-3-1 record. Lindenwood defeated Arkansas State 24-7 in the first round of the playoffs last Saturday.
- The Midshipmen and Lions have faced three common opponents this season. Each team has defeated Mount St. Mary's (Navy – 36-8 and 27-8; Lindenwood – 45-24) and BYU (Navy – 43-28; Lindenwood – 48-21) while both schools have fell to Life (Navy – 23-20; Lindenwood – 28-24).
- Lindenwood is currently on a seven-match winning-streak with its last loss coming to Life back on Feb. 15.
Series History vs. Lindenwood
- The Mids will face the Lions for the second time as a varsity program. Navy won the inaugural meeting by a narrow 12-10 score in the semifinal round of the 2023 playoffs to advance to the DI-A National Championship Game.
Additional Quarterfinal Playoff Matches (All Times ET)
East Bracket
Saturday, April 12
(4) Army at (1) Life (1 p.m.)
West Bracket
Saturday, April 12
(3) Central Washington at (2) Saint Mary's (4 p.m.)
(5) Arizona at (1) California (4 p.m.)
