SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College men's rugby team powered past Fairfield University, 35-26, in the Liberty Rugby Conference Semifinal match held on Sunday, October 30.
AIC got off to a hot start in the contest, drawing a penalty inside the 22 just over three minutes in, and German Rossi nailed the kick to put three points on the board. On the next possession, AIC drew another penalty near to the try line on a scrum, and Rakeem Ridore dove over the line to put down for five more points, giving AIC an 8-0 lead less than six minutes into the match.
Fairfield got onto the board in the 16th minute with a penalty kick of their own, but the rest of the half belonged to AIC; the lone score was put in by Israel Martinez as he snuck around the Fairfield scrum and stole the ball, breaking a tackle to dive into the right corner of the try zone in the 27th minute. Rossi converted, and the defense then held from there to halftime, sending AIC to the locker room with a 15-3 lead.
The Stags came out firing in the second, taking advantage of their lineout prowess and kicking ability, and Nick Lapponese busted down the left side to break in for a try just under the four-minute mark of the half. However, a knock-on just after the kickoff gave AIC possession back, and Martinez put in another try for the Yellow Jackets moments later, pushing the lead to 20-8.
The open was a harbinger of how the half would play out. Fairfield scored another penalty kick in the 50th minute, and then a try just over two minutes later, cutting AIC's advantage to 20-16, but the Stags muffed the following kickoff and Patrick Maclin snagged the ball and was able to walk in uncontested for a try to get AIC back ahead by nine.
The Stags Chris Giunta edged his team closer once more with about 15 minutes to play, breaking a tackle deep in AIC territory to score and then hit his conversion as well. However, AIC again had an answer, winning a lineout on the subsequent kickoff and then pushing forward to the right side of the try zone, where Taivon Barker blasted through the defenses to score. Rossi converted the subsequent kick for a 32-23 lead with under 13 minutes to play.
The Stags once again made it a one-possession game late with a penalty kick, hoping to get a final try and conversion to win by a single point. AIC's defense stole the ball back, however, and with time running out, Rossi nailed a penalty kick, ending the game at 35-26 for his Yellow Jackets.
AIC advances to the Liberty Rugby Championship Game with the victory. The team will face Brown University for the title at Fairfield University. Date and time is to be determined.
