STEUBENVILLE, Ohio—Franciscan Rugby closed out a successful season with a heartbreakingly tight 31-24 loss to Robert Morris University in the 3 Rivers Rugby Conference championship match.
"That's just rugby and that's life," head coach Chris Courtnell said. "Sometimes you make plans and you think you've got it all figured out, and life doesn't always go the way you plan it."
The match was a fierce back and forth battle with both the Barons and RMU alternately leading. Senior wing Mark Allen scored the first try to put FUS ahead 5-0 which RMU quickly countered with a try and conversion for 7 points.
The end of the first half saw the Barons up 10-7 thanks to a try by freshman wing Kevin Arkoosh. Ten minutes into the second half, however, FUS was unable to get a hand on the ball as the opposing team inched towards the goal line in ruck after ruck to retake the lead, 12-10.
As RMU threatened to take the match, the Barons pushed as a body, driving their opponents back down the field.
"We stuck together and that's what has been our key focus," Courtnell said. "We were playing for each other.
Franciscan held the largest lead of the game after two more tries from senior Sebastian de Luxembourg and Arkoosh made it 24-14. Then another two tries with conversions from RMU turned the tables yet again.
Although the Barons grappled at the opponent's end of the field for the final eight minutes, they were unable to retake the match and RMU converted on a kick in the final seconds to solidify the win.
While the loss comes as a blow after an undefeated season, 7-0 in conference play and 8-0 overall, Courtnell was pleased with the team's effort and the culmination of a season of hard work.
"I couldn't ask anything more from them, really," he said. "What we've done this year goes much further than the wins and losses, it's in the stuff that these guys have learned that will be with them for the rest of their lives. That's the most important thing for Franciscan rugby."
Courtnell singled out the team's seven seniors, Anthony Tatasciore, Issac Archibeque, Jason Liuzzi, Connor McCaffrey, Thomas Hogan, Allen, and de Luxembourg as a driving force in the team's growth on and off the field.
"These men can hold their heads high. They've passed the torch on to the next group of guys and we'll be back next year, and the year after and the year after," Courtnell said. "What we've done this year has set the platform for something really special, something that's going to be around for a long time."
