ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men's rugby team (9-1) advanced to the quarterfinals of the Collegiate Rugby Association of America National Championship Playoffs with a 40-11 victory over Mary Washington (4-8) on Saturday afternoon at the Prusmack Rugby Center.
 
"We were very dominant in the first half," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "Our penalty count in the second half went against us, and we failed to dominate the half the way we wanted to. There are plenty of things we're happy about and to be able to score 40 points in a playoff game, we're content with that."
 
Roanin Krieger led the offensive output for the Midshipmen, tallying 10 points on five successful conversion kicks. Navy showcased a balanced attack with six different players scoring tries. For Mary Washington, Jack Joyce led the scoring with two penalty kicks for six points, while Nick White accounted for the Eagles' lone try.
 
Navy set the tone early by turning strong field position into points. After a Mary Washington scrum penalty, the Mids drove from the 5-meter line, and Ian Bullock scored a try at 3:54. Krieger added the conversion to give Navy a 7-0 lead.
 
A powerful Navy scrum soon forced a turnover, allowing Kade Williams to split the defense for a try at 8:29. Krieger's conversion made it 14-0. Navy continued to apply pressure after securing a lineout inside the Eagles' 22-meter area, as Krieger found Avion Ganse for a try at 12:22 to extend the lead to 19-0.
 
Mary Washington got on the board when a Navy penalty allowed Joyce to convert a penalty kick at 14:26, cutting the deficit to 19-3. Navy responded quickly as Jack Skidmore collected a pass, raced down the sideline and dove over the try line at 17:23. Krieger's conversion pushed the lead to 26-3.
 
With the Eagles driving inside Navy's 22-meter area, the Midshipmen were penalized for not rolling away. Joyce converted his second penalty kick at 21:44 to make it 26-6.
 
Navy answered late in the first half when Bullock powered into the 5-meter area before offloading to Austin Taylor, who scored a try at 24:58. Krieger's conversion gave Navy a commanding 33-6 halftime lead.
 
In the second half, a Navy maul penalty gave the Eagles a kick to touch inside the Mids' 22-meter area. Mary Washington executed a clean lineout, and White broke through for a try at 52:13. The ensuing conversion attempt by Joyce was unsuccessful, keeping the score at 33-11.
 
Navy capped the scoring after an Eagles penalty awarded the Mids a lineout near the 22-meter line. Williams found Nate Roberts, who scored a try at 77:13. Krieger's final conversion sealed the 40-11 victory.
 
"We have another week together, and we don't want our season to end next Saturday," Hickie said. "We know who's coming to town. We're excited to host Army, and we're expecting a great performance from the Mids."
 
Navy will face rival Army in the quarterfinals next Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will be streamed on the Navy Athletics YouTube channel.
 
Box Score
3:54 – Try – Navy – Ian Bullock (5-0)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (7-0)
 
8:29 – Try – Navy – Kade Williams (12-0)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (14-0)
 
12:22 – Try – Navy – Avion Ganse (19-0)
 
14:26 – Penalty kick – Mary Washington – Jack Joyce (19-3)
 
17:23 – Try – Navy – Jack Skidmore (24-3)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (26-3)
 
21:44 – Penalty kick – Mary Washington – Jack Joyce (26-6)
 
24:58 – Try – Navy – Austin Taylor (31-6)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (33-6)
 
52:13 – Try – Mary Washington – Nick White (33-11)
 
77:13 – Try – Navy – Nate Roberts (38-11)
Conversion kick – Roanin Krieger (40-11)