STEUBENVILLE – It's an undefeated season for the Franciscan University rugby team, locking in an early lead against Grove City College in the Allegheny Rugby Union championship and running the score up to a 46-12 victory Saturday afternoon. The Barons have rekindled their days of success, clinching the ARU championship after eight years. The team now heads to the Division III National Tournament playoffs at Ithaca College.

The Barons struck first on the pitch when John “Jack” Marchand buried the ball over the goal line and Edmund Mitchell followed with a two-point conversion, quickly giving the Barons a 7-0 lead. A try by John Manni, his first of three on the day, made the score 12-0.

Grove City got on the board and narrowed the deficit to five with a try and a conversion late in the first half, but it was the closest the Wolverines would get to the Barons all afternoon.

With only a few minutes left in the half, Mike Storelli received the ball from Paul Lewis and took it in for the try, racking the score up to 17-7. Storelli struck again minutes later, plowing through defenders on his way to another try. Mitchell's conversion brought the Barons to a 24-7 lead at the half.

“Mike Storelli really set the tone with those scores right before the half,” noted Franciscan's head rugby coach Mark Hanrahan.

The Barons continued the offensive onslaught in the second half, getting two consecutive tries from Mike Brasie and two more from Manni, all in the first 20 minutes. The gap widened on the scoreboard to 46-7.

Grove City managed to get one more try later in the game but it was not enough, and Franciscan celebrated its return to earning the ARU Championship title.

“These guys have worked so hard for this,” said Hanrahan. “They practiced five days a week and were totally committed. They are all great men on and off the field.”

Hanrahan also noted how this match was highly anticipated as one of the biggest challenges for his team this year since the Grove City Wolverines walked on the pitch as an undefeated team too. “That was the best team we've played all season,” he said. “Mike Storelli played huge for us and [Mike] Brasie had a couple of great hits and tries.”

Franciscan University's Athletic Director Chris Ledyard commented on how this was a big step for FUS Athletics, saying, “One of our teams has finally arrived at a peak place. We are beginning to reach a place of national notoriety, and I am most impressed with this team's discipline.”

The Barons anticipate traveling to Ithaca, New York, on November 13 for their Sweet Sixteen match against Ithaca College. If they win the match, the Barons will move to the Elite Eight playoffs in the spring and one step closer to the Division III National Championship.

“This has been our goal all year,” said Hanrahan, “and we have a really great chance of taking it all the way to Virginia Beach to the DIII National Championship game. Post season play is going to be exciting!”