ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The second-ranked Navy men's rugby team (10-1) advanced to the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) Division I-A semifinals with a 38-10 quarterfinal victory over sixth-ranked Army (10-4) on Saturday afternoon at the Prusmack Rugby Center. The East bracket's top-seeded Midshipmen used a suffocating defense and four different try scorers to pull away from the fourth-seeded Black Knights.
 
Roanin Krieger led the scoring output for the Mids with 16 points, drilling four penalty kicks and adding two conversions. Andrew Baublitz, Edmund Soeder, Austin Taylor and Trevor Gayron each scored tries, while Kade Williams added a late conversion. For Army, Matt Leslie and Chance Loudenback accounted for the team's 10 points with first-half tries.
 
"We played very well," director of rugby Gavin Hickie said. "The final score being 38-10 against Army is an indication of a great 80-minute performance and I am really happy about that. It's always special to beat Army, and to end their season is pretty special. These seniors do not know what it is like to lose to Army, winning seven in a row, and they deserve that."
 
Army struck first after both teams engaged in a back-and-forth field position battle. Escaping down the sideline, Leslie scored off a scrum at 11:07 to give the Black Knights a 5-0 lead.
 
Navy responded after drawing a penalty to set up a kick to touch and a lineout inside Army's 22-meter area. After working the ball to the five-meter line, Baublitz took a pass and scored at 19:50. Krieger's conversion gave Navy a 7-5 lead.
 
Following an Army penalty that stalled a Midshipmen drive, Navy elected to attempt a penalty kick. Krieger converted from distance at 28:32 to push the lead to 10-5.
 
Army capitalized on a Navy mistake to tie the match minutes later. After intercepting a Navy lineout near the try line, Loudenback scored at 32:40 to even the score at 10-10.
 
"We never felt like we were under too much pressure when Army scored two quick tries to begin the game," Hickie said. "I have to give credit to the team for staying comfortable after those two scores."
 
Just before halftime, an Army offside penalty allowed Navy another penalty kick opportunity. Krieger converted at 38:57 to give the Midshipmen a 13-10 lead at the break.
 
Navy set the tone immediately in the second half, pinning Army deep in its own territory and forcing a penalty. Soeder powered in for a try at 44:49 to extend the lead to 18-10.
 
The Midshipmen struck again moments later after a strong run by Michael Strehle into Army's 22-meter area set up Taylor, who scored at 47:20. Krieger's conversion pushed the advantage to 25-10.
 
"What we noticed from the first half is that we needed to play a little bit more rugby by keeping the ball in our hands and identifying the holes in Army's defense," Hickie said.
 
As Navy's defense continued to stifle the Black Knights and preserve the second-half shutout, the Midshipmen added to their lead through the kicking game. After Army was penalized for a high tackle, Krieger converted a 43-meter penalty kick at 70:10 to make it 28-10.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, Army was penalized again. Navy opted for another penalty kick, and Krieger delivered at 72:27 to extend the lead to 31-10.
 
"The real turning point of the game was Krieger scoring those two penalty kicks," Hickie said. "There weren't a lot of penalties in the game, but we capitalized on almost every opportunity. That was the tipping point."
 
The Midshipmen added a final score in the closing minutes as Gayron crossed the try line at 76:58. Williams converted to account for the 38-10 final.
 
Navy will host Life next Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
Box Score
11:07 – Try – Army – Matt Leslie (0-5)

19:50 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baublitz (5-5)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (7-5)

28:32 – Penalty kick – Navy – Roanin Krieger (10-5)

32:40 – Try – Army – Chance Loudenback (10-10)

38:57 – Penalty kick – Navy – Roanin Krieger (13-10)

44:49 – Try – Navy – Edmund Soeder (18-10)

47:20 – Try – Navy – Austin Taylor (23-10)
Conversion – Roanin Krieger (25-10)

70:10 – Penalty kick – Navy – Roanin Krieger (28-10)

72:27 – Penalty kick – Navy – Roanin Krieger (31-10)

76:58 – Try – Navy – Trevor Gayron (36-10)
Conversion – Kade Williams (38-10)