The Massachusetts men’s club rugby team took two steps closer to winning the national championship over the weekend, beating Wisconsin-Whitewater 32-18 and Arizona State 22-6  to advance to the semi-finals. 

UMass (10-1) used its aggressive style of passing patterns in close proximity to confuse the opponent to the point of committing unnecessary penalties.

“We feel like we surprised our opponents pretty well,” said UMass coach Al Baker. “We found ways of exploiting our opponent’s weaknesses, such as kicking into open spaces and playing aggressive right out of the gate.”

Baker said his club became stronger as the game went on against the Warhawks, and that the wins on back-to-back days showed a lot about his team’s passion to win.

“We feel like we can compete with anybody right now,” Baker said.

The Minutemen faced two of the top 16 teams in division II rugby, first sending home the best ranked team on Saturday in the Midwest region.

UMass continued its style of grinding the ball up the field and scoring, but the kicking game was a key factor in the victory.

“Our junior Josh Reed stepped in to fill the shoes as penalty and extra point kicker, and stepped up big time,” Baker said. “We forced them to commit penalties in the try zone due to our attack style, and it gave us the opportunity to put up some easy points.”

In the game on Sunday, UMass stifled the Sun Devils high-scoring offense, allowing six points.

“We really focused on using defensive patterns that would allow us to keep them contained to certain areas the field,” Baker said.

Without a full day of rest in between games, UMass faced a team that was undefeated.

“They’re a really good club that plays an aggressive style of play,” Baker said.

Arizona won the Southern California regional championship in the fall and was No. 2 in the top 25 poll going into the matchup.

UMass’ offensive strategy has been successful all season, including the recent Cherry Blossom tournament, where the team combined to outscore its opponents 77-34 over four games.

“Playing an aggressive style, we knew that [Arizona] would be like us, in a sense that most of their strength came from working a lot of people on the ball at once,” Baker said. “We were able to spread them out a little, while keeping our guys close together and retain the ball quickly.”

The Minutemen will make their way to Albany, NY this Saturday to face Albany.

“At this point in the season, we’re in full-gear, ready to compete against anyone,” Baker said. “But, we also know the importance of rest and time to heal. We’ll continue to play our style of game, getting in the guys most fresh and healthy, and prepare for the final four in two weeks.”

UMass will take on Temple in the Final Four in two weeks. Baker stated that the challenge is a difficult one, but he believed his team is up to the task.

“This weekend showed something about us,” Baker said. “It takes a team, working together the whole game to win in rugby. This weekend showed that we can hang with anyone, and we hope to continue our success when we head out west.” 

Scott Cournoyer can be reached at scournoy@student.umass.edu.

The Massachusetts men’s rugby team looks to capture a national championship this weekend when they face the best 16 teams in the country.

Coach Al Baker is anxious to see how his team’s style of play will translate this weekend, as they play Saturday against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“We like to stick with basic fundamentals,” Baker said. “Once in awhile, we’ll put a couple new plays in, but mostly we stick with what works for us.”

The team uses a style of offense that is similar to what is a “run and gun” offense in basketball, moving quickly and trying to push the ball up the field while using a lot of support behind it. If they want to be successful this weekend, according to Baker, the Minutemen must believe in each other and continue to play their style of game.

“We rely on close support, and good offloading of the ball…our forwards need to be in support at every point of contact. Scrum-half needs to control the pace of the game.”

Winning the New England Division II Championship in the fall, UMass showcased their talent at the Cherry Blossom Tournament in Washington, D.C. last weekend. The Minutemen not only faced the best collegiate team in the nation in Georgetown, they were able to bring home the trophy in a 23-20 win.

The game went back and forth for all 40 minutes of play, as both teams traded two penalty kicks each in the first half.  A penalty kick early in the second half eventually was the difference in the game, as UMass and the Hoyas went point for point from then on for the rest of the game. 

“The Georgetown game really helped us raise our intensity,” Baker said. “It’s the kind of game you look forward to, and they certainly gave it to us.”

Like the game against the Hoyas, UMass will look to continue using their style of grinding the ball up the middle of the field. The choice has proven to be a successful one, as the Minutemen combined to outscore their opponents 77-34 over four games in the tournament.  

Captains Dan Doherty and Edaun Pickholz will help to carry the team deep into the national tournament.

“Now that we’ve been playing in knockout competition since early spring, not only do we have to be in top shape, but we needed to also seek out those leaders that will help reproduce that feeling of success,” said Baker. 

 The Warhawks won the Midwest Region Championship in the fall, and is a team who knows how to close out its opponents, winning four out of five playoffs game in the fall by four points or less, including a 13-12 championship win. 

This weekend is a great chance for the program to take even another step forward, further getting their program out to the rest of the rugby community.

“[The national championship] gets people outside of our bubble to realize that we are a serious program,” said Baker.

UMass will face the best of the best in Division II over the weekend, competing against top teams such as Vermont and Middlebury College, who come from the northeast region along with the Minutemen. 

Baker says that this opportunity, along with advancing back to Division I play this fall has been a tremendous achievement.

“When I first got here, [the alumni] had a big problem with us not being in Division I,” Baker said.  “They never demanded for us to win a national title, or a New England championship. All they wanted was for us to get back to Division I, the best of the best, and now we’re back.”

Scott Cournoyer can be reached at scournoy@student.umass.edu.

The Harp is the quintessential traditional Irish bar that every town needs, but very few have. In addition to their 16 beers on tap, they offer a wide selection of great food and entertainment to keep their patrons happy. Upon walking in, there’s a noticeable feel that this bar is different than any other in Amherst. The walls are adorned with Red Sox garb, and of course, everything Irish. Heroes from Ireland’s history such as Daniel O’Connell, Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone hang outside the men’s room. Flags, jerseys and shamrocks decorate the place as well, and festive green lighting trims the ceiling all around.

As a restaurant, the Harp serves lunch on Fridays and dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays. Starting this week, they are offering lunch on Thursdays and Saturdays as well. “We’re known for our seafood,” said bartender Yasmin Abbyad, referring to their regularly offered fish and chips and frequent lunch and dinner seafood specials. Their menu is packed with everything from burgers and hot dogs to hot sandwiches and salads, and flatbread pizzas are available any time the Harp is open. The beer-battered boneless chicken is flavorful, juicy and delicious, while their appetizers make for great pub food when knocking back a couple beers. Anything from crispy, golden French fries to jalapeno poppers are available. Their famous Irish nachos, Cajun-seasoned waffle fries topped with cheddar jack, olives, sour cream, salsa and jalapenos, go hand-in-hand with their trivia night. It is, by far, the most popular appetizer on the menu.

The Harp offers entertainment in the form of a trivia night on Tuesdays and live traditional Irish music on Thursday afternoons and Friday evenings. After 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Irish music yields to the brand-new karaoke night. It also doubles as a sports bar, and is probably one of the only places in town to televise soccer and rugby matches. When the Red Sox regular season kicks off, they set up an 8×10 foot projection screen on their outdoor deck to show the games.

The wildly popular trivia night is one of the Harp’s busiest events. Most nights of the week, Harp owner Mark Power (also known as “Harpo”) is at the bar, running around greeting regulars or introducing himself to newcomers. On Tuesdays, however, he takes the microphone and emcees trivia, announcing 50 questions to his patrons. Multiple teams of up to five people compete for five different cash prizes of varying amounts. At the end of the night, there’s a free all-you-can-eat buffet that seems to cap off the evening perfectly. There’s a mandatory $5 donation to join in, and all of the proceeds (besides the cash prizes) go to charity.

As a well-respected contributor to the local community, the Harp generates tens of thousands of dollars each year in charity donations. Trivia night proceeds go to a different organization each week, ranging from cash-strapped RSOs at the University of Massachusetts, to the Amherst Survival Center. The Anthony B. Anderson fund, founded by the Harp, donates thousands of dollars each year to local youth sports organizations. Patrons who wear a Yankees hat into the bar must donate a dollar to the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox-sponsored cancer charity.

Born in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston and raised in Roxbury, Mass., Mr. Power was a boat builder by trade. He came to Amherst in his 20s and opened the Harp nine years ago, coincidentally on the anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland.

When asked what the inspiration was to start a traditional Irish bar, he explained, “I became interested in Ireland after studying Norman history. Norman influence can be seen almost everywhere, including Ireland. I studied Irish history, and essentially my interest in that caused me to create the Harp.”

The Harp isn’t like the average Amherst bar. It caters to a wide variety of clients, from local farmers and lumber yard workers to students and university faculty. He wanted to create a different experience other than what he calls “Meat-rack bars: Drunks yelling over noise.”

During my interview with Mr. Power, he excused himself to cut a check out to the local Boys and Girls Club and point a local farmer in the direction of recycled fryolator oil, used to power his farm equipment. 

When asked about his regular charitable donations, Power explained, “The Harp’s primary function is charity. My theory is that I donate the same amount to charity as what I pay myself.” There’s no arguing that the Harp’s donations have helped out many different organizations around Amherst. Places like the Jones Library and the Amherst Survival Center are grateful for the hard work and money that the Harp doles out regularly.

In addition to being a bar owner, Power teaches classes at the University of Massachusetts, is a member of the Amherst Town Meeting and holds a seat on the farm committee. He has experience teaching early and late medieval history and early and late western civilization, and for the past 20 years has taught “The Irish Experience” through the University’s continuing education program.

The Harp is located at 163 Sunderland Road in North Amherst, Mass. Although many students don’t discover it until their senior year, or at least until they turn 21, it’s just a seven-to-eight minute walk from Hobart Lane or Brandywine Apartments. Stop in for lunch or dinner, or just come for a drink to be greeted by the lovely staff of bartenders. The Harp’s theme is steeped in Irish tradition, but there’s enough going on for people of all backgrounds to have a truly great time.

Brendan Murphy can be reached at brendanm@student.umass.edu

For three and a half hours Sunday night, everybody was an (American) football fan. Even if they had no idea what was going on.

At Captain America’s, a crowded comic book hero-themed restaurant in downtown Cork, Ireland, though, knowledge of the game made little difference.

That night, Munster rugby jackets were replaced with NFL jerseys as football changed definitions. Sure, most people cared about the just-finished Arsenal-Chelsea game in the long run. But when the New Orleans Saints emerged from the tunnel to take the field for Super Bowl XLIV, the eruption from the crowd showed that the patrons there were anything but apathetic.

Whether it was the karaoke stage crammed full with bodies in front of a giant projection screen or several tables of Irish singing both “America the Beautiful” and “The Star Spangled Banner” in inebriated dissonance, the Irish showed up most sports crowds you’d see back in the States.

That, and drinking songs beat “Yankees suck” chants any day. And I hate the Yankees.

The feeling inside of Captain America’s was a constant fluctuation of familiar and foreign. It’s one of the strangest feelings when abroad. You feel the comfort of one place, yet you’re constantly reminded of the fact that you’re not home. Making fun of Peyton Manning is great, but I still couldn’t text my buddy the J-Mann about his stupid commercials.

Even the broadcast itself had more differences than expected. While Americans were being bombarded with commercials (the one time a year when this is a good thing), the European carrier of the game, Sky Sports, cut to the studio.

At this point, I was subjected to the expert analysis of a low-level college wide receivers coach and a former tight end for the London Monarchs (a former team in the now-deceased NFL Europe).

These little differences made little difference to most of the crowd. They were just pumped for game.

“People have asked me why I have this jersey. And I just say ‘who cares? It’s the NFL,’” said an alcoholically stoked fan donning the jersey of Frank Gore, running back for the San Francisco 49ers.

Throughout the venue one could see that a sprinkling of NFL jerseys showcased a hodgepodge of teams, with the New England Patriots and New York Giants being the most common.

Conversations with other fans were short and to the point, though.

Most exchanges with European fans during the Super Bowl consisted of yelling out the name of the player or team whose apparel they were wearing and then yelling. Crude, but effective.

During halftime, Sky Network showed a feature on the hectic affair that is Media Day at the Super Bowl, which occurs the Wednesday before the Big Game. Sure, the only players that the European networks could get were a backup offensive lineman, a kick returner and a backup cornerback, but no one cared. It was (American) football.

While I was fortunate to be sitting with a large group of American students at the event, I was the only one with extensive football knowledge (What do you mean you didn’t know Marques Colston went to Hofsta University?), and the only guy at the table.

As my friend Jared pointed out early in the night before retiring early because of a fever, a good deal of the patrons were “girls in shiny dresses who are just there to take pictures of themselves.”

But between each photo session, they could sure cheer, producing classics like, “Why is he so good? He’s a motherf***er,” and, “No cheers. F*** that, they suck.”

Even I was drawn away from the game when our group was sidetracked and distracted by a more pressing contest: When (and with whom) would the promiscuous girl of the group nearby make out with one of the three Irish lads hitting on her? The eventual winner drew cheers and multiple high fives.

Although most people were simply celebrating the event, globalization reared its American-corporate head once again.

Even in a city that is obsessed with rugby, hurling and football (both the Gaelic and European varieties), the NFL still has fans.

Funny story: The first guy I talked to in an Irish pub was, of all things, a huge Patriots fan with whom I had a long conversation about Tom Brady and Wes Welker. Oddly enough, the second guy I talked to in an Irish pub told me that “Tom Brady is rubbish.”

Irish smack talk: It’s a deep burn.

Seeing people embrace a foreign game as their own is an amazing thing.

Imagine what these people do when they watch a sport they actually like.

Nick O’Malley is a Collegian columnist. He can be reached at nomalley@student.umass.edu.

(Matthew Harrison/Collegian)

On Thursday Dec. 3, University of Massachusetts officials, including Chancellor Robert C. Holub, will hold an official opening ceremony for the University’s new $50 million Recreation Center.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and will be held at the Recreation Center on 161 Commonwealth Ave. across from the Mullins Center. 

Among the University’s officials scheduled to attend the event will be UMass President Jack Wilson, UMass Trustee Henry Thomas III, UMass Building Authority member Robert Sheridan, Athletic Director John McCutcheon, Associate Dean for undergraduate programs at the Isenberg School of Management Carol Barr.

The three-level, 120,000-square-foot Recreation Center features weight and fitness equipment, a three-court gymnasium, a wellness center, an elevated jogging track, three multi-purpose rooms, locker and shower facilities, space for intramural sports and club offices for skiing, baseball, cycling, crew, fencing, ice hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, rugby and wrestling.

Additionally the exercise areas are equipped with 25 flat-panel televisions and electronic message boards, which display daily activity and exercise schedules for students.

The opening ceremony come one month after the University opened the Recreation Center Oct. 30 to undergraduate students, who have free membership.

- Collegian News Staff

Dark clouds loomed over the Massachusetts club rugby team on Saturday afternoon as it watched its lead evaporate in the final quarter of the match. But a silver lining was found on Sunday in a bid to the national championship tournament.

Fifth-seeded Vermont (9-2) waterlogged the top-seeded Minutemen (11-2), 15-10. The Catamounts scored 15 points in the final 15 minutes to amass a 10-point rally and move on to the New England Championship match on Sunday.

Despite the loss, UMass bounced back to win in its third-place match against Stony Brook, 21-0. Again, the Minutemen failed to score in the second half, but did not need the points as they stymied the Sea Wolves’s offense.

On Saturday, UMass had everything going its way in the first half, powering to two tries while staying in firm control of the game. The only regret in the first 65 minutes was that they didn’t score more points.

“We didn’t establish a large enough lead,” UMass coach Al Baker said. “There were a number of missed opportunities. We hit the posts twice on our conversions.”

Two missed conversions by a usually reliable Dan Morgan may have been costly. Both kicks missed by the slightest of margins, grazing the uprights and landing unsuccessfully.

The impact of the kicks was less tangible and more cognitive. Instead of a 14 point lead, forcing the Catamounts into gaining three scores to win, the 10-point deficit was more inviting to them.

“They weren’t confident until they got that score,” Baker said. “If we had a bigger lead, it would have made them more disillusioned.”

The Minutemen jumped out of the gate with two tries in the first half on a couple of physical, forward drives capped off by Mike Kenefick and Ryan Gillespie.

Vermont began moving the ball more successfully in the second half by giving their backs more touches. The soggy field conditions forced the ball to take some unexpected bounces that fooled UMass while the Catamounts used passing to keep the ball off of the sodden terrain.

The pitch was in poor condition on Saturday, resembling a marsh more than an actual field. With ruggers from both teams sporting brown uniforms as they were drenched with mud, Coach Baker thought the match had a classic feel to it.

“It was like watching an old-style football game,” Baker said.

The field conditions on Sunday were decidedly better, and so was the play of the Minutemen. Nine minutes into the match, Shawn Brennan stepped in front of a Stony Brook pass, intercepting the ball and bringing it 70 yards downfield for the game’s first try. Josh Reid, who handled the day’s kicking duties, punched in the conversion to take a 7-0 lead.

Some 12 minutes later, a kick-ahead by Edaun Pickholz put UMass in a position near the opposing try-zone. Kenefick picked up the kick and relayed it to Josh Reid who dove over the goal line for a try. A Reid conversion extended the lead to 14-0.

On the last play of the first half, after strong rucking and mauling, the Minutemen forced themselves into the end-zone one more time. Kenefick converted a try followed by a Reid two-pointer to conclude the day’s scoring. 

The Catamounts pulled off another improbable rally on Sunday to beat Middlebury, 19-15, and capture the trophy. Along with Middlebury, the three teams earned spots in the national championship tournament next spring. 

The national tournament will begin in April in Florida with 16 teams making the cut.

UMass will look forward to the Dec. 5 New England Rugby Football Union meetings in which it will be decided whether or not the former Division I school will move back up to those ranks next season.

Daniel Gigliotti can be reached at dgigliot@student.umass.edu.

With rain and wind predicted to consume the pitch on Saturday, the Massachusetts rugby team prepares to weather the storm that is Vermont and move one step closer to the New England Championship, and a birth in the national tournament.

The No. 25 Minutemen (9-1), who are the top seed in the NEC tournament, are now winners of five straight matches having persevered through the New England Rugby Football Union tournament and won handily against Southern Connecticut last Saturday, 27-0, in their quarterfinal match.

A win against the fifth-seeded Catamounts would pit UMass in a championship battle against little known Stony Brook or No. 1 Middlebury, the team it triumphed over to grab the NERFU Championship.

The Minutemen were on the right end of a lopsided match, last weekend, in which they scored four second-half tries to rout the eighth-seeded Owls (7-2).

Vermont is likely to present tougher competition to the Minutemen than Southern Connecticut did. Vermont averages a hefty 37.2 points per match this season while giving up 11.1, yet have seen its numbers fall since the playoffs, averaging 20 points and giving up an average of seven in four games (3-1).

Although its offensive numbers dropped recently, Vermont’s tenacious attack has remained formidable. The Catamount’s two losses this season came at the hands of conference rival Middlebury, including an opening day loss to the Panthers on Sept. 19 and another in the NERFU semifinals on Oct. 31, but not without resistance.

“They had Middlebury up against their own goal-line for most of their match,” UMass coach Al Baker said.

Both games were decided by six points and played on Middlebury’s home turf. The two losses are the only blemishes on Vermont’s record this season. The Catamounts managed to bounce back nicely following defeat as they routed Boston University, 47-5, on Nov. 1 to capture the fifth seed in the NEC tournament. It then topped Buffalo State, 46-21, in the quarterfinals on Saturday

Vermont brings a sizable squad into Amherst on Saturday. Baker believes his team will match the Catamounts in stature and gain an advantage in its speed.

Last week, the Minutemen were a bit giddy on the onset of the match, forcing the action and making unsound plays that led to turnovers. Baker urges his ruggers to let the game come to them as they will look to find a weakness in Vermont’s attack.

“We’re going to continue to pressure Vermont with our forwards,” Baker said. “[We want to] try and get their backline to commit to forwards’ attack and create opportunities for the backs.”

The Catamount’s offensive assault tallied eight tries last Saturday. However, Baker is not worried about matching their scoring as UMass managed 32 points per game this season. Its attack is split evenly between its backs and forwards on 54 scoring tries this season.

If Baker and his team are nervous about anything, it is the adverse weather forecast. With a 90 percent chance of rain and a lot of wear and tear on their home-field in the past month, the Minutemen hope that their terrain will not be an impediment in the four matches they will host this weekend.

UMass will play two games on the weekend. If it loses, it will play on Sunday for a chance to make the national tournament this spring. With a win, the Minutemen will take on the winner of Stony Brook and Middlebury for the Northeast Championship.

UMass handled Middlebury on Nov. 1 for the NERFU championship, 34-3, and is prepared to face a revamped Panther attack.

“I’m sure Middlebury wants another shot at us and will prepare better,” Baker said.

Daniel Gigliotti can be reached at dgigliot@student.umass.edu.

With a Northeast Regional Championship title in sight and a national championship birth in the wings, the top-seeded Massachusetts club rugby team poised itself for a second half surge that propelled it to a 27-0 quarterfinal win over eight-seeded Southern Connecticut on Saturday.

Deadlocked without a score after 40 minutes, the Minutemen (9-1) burst out to a decisive lead in the second half. They chipped in a penalty kick and out-ran their opponents to two quick tries, taking a 17-0 lead. UMass coach Al Baker attributed the offensive explosion to his team’s fitness.

“After a point, it was hard for them to keep up with our speed and intensity,” Baker said.

The Minutemen played into a slight wind in the first half, which contributed to Southern Connecticut’s (7-2) attempts to hold off the UMass attack. Every effort the Minutemen made to push forward, the Owls countered by applying resistance and clearing the ball off of their collective foot. Baker advised his team to settle down at the break.

“We were very excited and anxious,” he said. “We settled down, got our legs under us and were much calmer.”

A penalty on Southern Connecticut for ‘coming in from the side’ on a ruck three minutes into the half gave the Minutemen a penalty kick on the right sideline at the 30 meter line. Dan Morgan’s kick stayed true, putting UMass on the board, 3-0.

Seven minutes later, the Minutemen moved swiftly downfield thanks to a kick-to-catch by Edaun Pickholz and a series of strong rucks. They gained the benefit of a line-out at the Owl’s five meter line. UMass looked incessantly for a crease to sneak into the try-zone until forward Brendan Daly found his way in for five points. Morgan legged the ball through the posts for a conversion to make the score 10-0.

Impressive runs by Shawn Brennan and Clark Hoopes six minutes later pushed the Minutemen to a three-score advantage. A scrum-out in UMass territory yielded possession to Brennan when he scooted 20 meters across midfield. From there, fullback Clark Hoopes carried the ball the final 40 meters for the try. Josh Reid, who sat out last weekend with an ankle injury, completed the conversion to take a 17-0 advantage.

The second half saw UMass gain the lion’s share of possession, hovering mostly around its opponent’s 22 meter line.

“It gave us more opportunities to attack and put pressure on them,” Baker said.

Forward movement for the UMass offense went stale after its second try as Southern Connecticut jockeyed for position. By hoarding the ball, the Minutemen kept the Owl’s defense on their heels and found more opportunities late in the half.

At the 30 minute mark, Brian Donnelly made another run for goal, taking the ball from his forwards, running over a couple of players, and crashing in for the third UMass try of the game. Reid’s kick sailed right of the posts, and the home team took a 22-0 lead.

On the final play of the game, Shaun Brennan cut and spun his way through Connecticut defenders for a try of his own and the Minutemen’s final score.

The offensive futility that the Owls displayed was uncharacteristic of their season, having scored at least 20 points per game in seven contests since Sept. 20. UMass is now holding its opponents to under seven points per game during the postseason (6.75).

The Minutemen are undefeated on their field behind McGuirk Stadium (5-0). They have the benefit of their home crowd again this weekend as they host the semifinals and finals of the Northeast Regional Championships.

UMass faces Vermont on Saturday for a birth in the finals and the right to compete for a national championship.

Daniel Gigliotti can be reached at dgigliot@student.umass.edu.

Amherst hosts the four best Division II club rugby teams next Saturday, as the Northeast Regional Tournament begins this weekend and concludes next weekend.

The No. 25 Massachusetts club rugby team hopes to be participating in those matches, as opposed to watching them, as it plays a quarterfinal match on Saturday, boasting the top seed in the tournament.

Following an upset of the No. 1 team in the country last weekend and a New England Club Rugby Union Championship, the Minutemen are poised to claim their next title and a bid to the National Championships.

“The boys are really focused, and they’re looking forward to continuing their run,” UMass coach Al Baker said.

Last Saturday, No. 25 UMass (8-1) handled Middlebury, 34-3, in a one-sided match that saw the Minutemen hold the highest scoring team in the division (42 points per game) to its lowest point total of the season.

UMass avenged its most lopsided defeat in recent memory; a 110-0 loss to the Panthers last season, when the Minutemen recorded their most uneven victory in five games.  

Regardless of UMass’ victory over the Panthers, Middlebury will have an opportunity to vie for the Northeast Title as the second seed.

The tournament pits teams from three conferences against one another for the chance to move on to the National Championship Tournament. The eight qualifiers earned their spots by virtue of their success in their respective conference tournaments and the credentials of each conference.

The Minutemen earned their bid to the Northeast Regional Tournament on Oct. 24, during the NEC quarterfinal matchup against Bentley. UMass won, 17-12,  scoring twice in the final 20 minutes of the game to top the pesky Falcons and advance to the semifinals.

Two victories last weekend including a 22-12 win over Boston University ensured UMass a No. 1 seed in the tournament.

The Minutemen will await the arrival of Southern Connecticut (7-1), which hasn’t lost in its last four matches. The Owls play a fast-paced game, and enter the tournament having beaten Iona on Sunday. The team comes in scoring 31.5 points a game, while giving up 13.12.

The Owls finished second in the Metropolitan New York Rugby Conference only to Stony Brook, who finished atop the conference. The Seawolves took out the Owls, 27-19, in a match played on Oct. 4. Stony Brook is the third seed in this weekend’s tournament, and will take on the Terriers.

The New York State Rugby Conference brings two squads to Amherst in fourth-seeded Buffalo State and seventh-seeded Hamilton College. Each team won their respective brackets (Empire East and West), and came out with close victories in the NYS Tournament to earn their spots.

Buffalo State edged out Rochester, 12-10, while Hamilton topped Hobart, 15-7. With identical records, the Bengals beat out the Continentals in seeding by way of a higher season point total (169-163).  

Buffalo State will stay in New York to host Vermont while Hamilton will travel to Middlebury.

Daniel Gigliotti can be reached at dgigliot@student.umass.edu.

The Massachusetts club rugby team toppled No. 1 Middlebury on Sunday to capture the New England Rugby Football Union Division II championship.

The No. 25 Minutemen, division bottom-dwellers in recent memory, avenged a 110-0 loss from last season in beating the Panthers, 34-3.

Middlebury (7-1) had been a giant in NERFU, winning seven of the last eight New England Championship trophies, but felt disappointment in defeat.

“We just didn’t play well to our potential,” Middlebury coach Blake Hinckley said to www.RugbyMag.com. “We look forward to having another match with them soon.”

The Minutemen grabbed the lead 15 minutes into the game and would not let go. UMass moved the ball through Middlebury territory and inside the 22 meter line. The two teams collided in a scrum from five meters out in which UMass powered the pile over the goal line, revealing the ball for Scott Newman to dive on.

Five minutes later, the Panthers countered by penetrating the Minutemen attack. UMass yielded a ‘not releasing the ball’ penalty as it attempted to regain possession, and Middlebury knocked through a penalty kick that would turn out to be its only points of the game.

The Minutemen, persistent in their attack, continued to pressure the Panthers until the halftime whistle went off. In the final play of the first half, UMass strung together a long run downfield, swinging the ball quickly out to Seth Oliver and cutting through the Middlebury defense. Stopped just short of the end zone, the orb was moved to Brendan Daly who crashed in for a try and put the Minutemen up, 10-3.

Coming out of the half, UMass continued to play relentlessly. Six minutes into play, second row player Brian Jerome found the goal line for a try. Playing without their usual kicker, Josh Reid, who sat out with an ankle ailment, Edaun Pickholz followed the score up with a conversion. Up 17-3, UMass dominated the scoring column, cruising to three more tries.

While the Minutemen’s offensive production is characteristic of how they have been playing this season, averaging 34.5 points per game going into Sunday, the Panthers’ defensive effort slacked.

Middlebury had given up 10 points in its last five matches (all against Vermont on Saturday) and registered four shutouts. Over the seven games played this season, the Panthers have allowed 36 points (5.14 per game).

When asked how his team was able to create so many opportunities against a suffocating Middlebury defense, UMass coach Al Baker identified a pressing type of play from his ruggers.

“[We’re] going forward – putting them under a lot of pressure,” Baker said. “[There is] a good amount of support; no player is fending for himself.”

On the other side of the ball, the Minutemen have worked hard on defense. Prior to UMass stifling the Panthers, they allowed 12 points in three consecutive games.

The Minutemen earned their spot in Sunday’s final after besting Boston University, 22-12, on Saturday. Strong winds affected the match, as BU took an early halftime lead, 12-0. A lengthy try, however, by UMass 35 minutes into play sprung the Minutemen back into contention, toting in a triplet of tries for the win.

UMass has ascended far up in the club rankings and can see the summit in sight, yet it still has some climbing to do if it wishes to claim the title of National Champions.      

“We want to be No. 1 in the country,” Baker said. “Same way as we have, take it one day at a time. Stay with fundamentals and keep fitness up.”

The Minutemen contend for the Northeast Regional title on Saturday and enjoys home-field advantage as Amherst welcomes in the eight-team field as hosts. The top-seeded Minutemen will take on eight-seeded Southern Connecticut at 1 p.m.

Despite the loss, Middlebury enters the tournament as the second seed.

Daniel Gigliotti can be reached at dgigliot@student.umass.edu.