ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men's rugby team (1-0) opened its season in dominant fashion, blanking St. Bonaventure (0-1) 50-0 at the Prusmack Rugby Center in Annapolis, Md., on Saturday afternoon. The Midshipmen utilized a balanced attack, featuring seven tries from seven different players.
 
"You can't ask for a whole lot more," director of rugby Gavin Hickie said. "We didn't concede any points, our discipline was very good and we scored 50 points. For what we were trying to achieve in our first game, it couldn't have gone any better from a purely scoreline perspective. Obviously, there's lots of work going on within that game, but a 50-0 season opener against a very good St. Bonaventure team, we're happy with that."
 
Kade Williams paced Navy with 15 total points. He orchestrated the kicking game, connecting on six conversions and a late penalty kick. The offensive production was shared across the board as Jake Cornelius, Jack Skidmore, Andrew Baublitz, Grant Goddard, John Masino, Waylon Davis and Edmund Soeder each contributed a try in the victory.
 
Cornelius sparked the offense just four minutes into the game. After powering a deep run into the Bonnies' 22-meter zone, he pushed through the line for the season's first score.
 
The Midshipmen kept the pressure on in the 13th minute when Sean Donohue set up Skidmore for the second try of the afternoon.
 
Navy's physical running continued to wear down St. Bonaventure. In the 31st minute, Baublitz shook off a defender and slammed in a try to give the Mids a 19-0 halftime advantage.
 
Defense quickly turned into offense to begin the second half, when Goddard intercepted a St. Bonaventure pass and raced untouched for a try in the 42nd minute.
 
The Midshipmen maintained their offensive rhythm with efficient passing as Masino punched in a try in the 48th minute. Ten minutes later, Davis drove in a maul off a lineout to extend the lead to 40-0.
 
"We have a very tight squad," Hickie said. "We've got 19 seniors this year and that has an impact. These guys have been playing together on the same pitch for the last three years. It's taken us a long time to get to the point where our backs and the team as a whole have the skill level, and the confidence, to be able to throw that ball around."

On the defensive side, Navy preserved the shutout with gritty play deep in its own territory. The Mids notably turned away a sustained St. Bonaventure push inside the 5-meter line in the 61st minute.
 
Relentless defensive pressure created the final try of the game in the 69th minute when Aidan Gerber blocked a Bonnies clear kick, allowing Soeder to corral the loose ball and cross the try line.
 
Williams then drilled an 80th-minute penalty kick at the final whistle to cap off the 50-0 shutout.
 
The Mids will be back in action next Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center when they take on the Potomac Exiles Rugby Club in an exhibition game.
 
Box Score
3:52 – Try – Navy – Jake Cornelius (5-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (7-0)
 
12:33 – Try – Navy – Jack Skidmore (12-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (14-0)
 
30:31 – Try – Navy – Andrew Baublitz (19-0)
 
41:53 – Try – Navy – Grant Goddard (24-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (26-0)
 
47:12 – Try – Navy – John Masino (31-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (33-0)
 
57:20 – Try – Navy – Waylon Davis (38-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (40-0)
 
68:31 – Try – Navy – Edmund Soeder (45-0)
Conversion kick – Kade Williams (47-0)
 
80:00 – Penalty kick – Navy – Kade Williams (50-0)