GROVE CITY, Pa. – For the second straight game Baron rugby had a slow start but eventually dominated the game, defeating conference opponent Grove City College 36-0.

The game was Franciscan's first shutout of the season and followed a similar pattern of play from the previous week's game against Geneva College, when FUS allowed their opponent to dictate the style of play for the first part of the game.

"In the first half we were a little bit slow and we got caught playing their game," head coach Chris Courtnell said. "They were big boys looking to hit it straight up the middle but in the second half our backline started moving the ball and getting it out wide."

The more spread-out style of play led to a more successful and more efficient offensive attack that, paired with the Barons already stifling defense, proved to be too much for Grove City to handle.

"We can mix it up with the big boys no problem but when we hit it right up the middle we're making it hard on ourselves," Courtnell said. "It we start sucking the defenders in and then shipping it out wide, we start to run our opponents more and wear them out. At the same time its less energy that we're expending."

Courtnell said that the late adjustment to the outside style of play may have been due to the team playing a number of players at new positions.

"We need to be able to come into the game and implement our game plan with a little more authority," Courtnell said. "Today we had a lot of new guys in different positions so I think that will come with more practice and more experience."

One of those inexperienced players was freshman Paul Deschler who followed up a Man of the Match award against Geneva with an admirable performance, scoring the team's fifth try despite playing three different positions.

While Deschler's performance was impressive, it was senior back Connor McCaffrey who won Man of the Match against Grove City for his overall presence in every aspect of play, including his try early in the first half.

"He was just everywhere on the field," Courtnell said. "He was clearing out the rucks, he was putting them under pressure, he was making tackles, and he was making good runs."

Also with tries for the Barons were sophomore Jeff Baldwin, junior Clayton Lang, senior Ian Miller, and senior Jason Liuzzi. The win gives Franciscan a 3-0 record on the season and 2-0 record in conference play.

"It's all coming together nicely. We're seeing lots of good things," Courtnell said.

The Barons next match will be back at home on September 20 against 3 Rivers Rugby Conference foe Fairmont State University at 1 pm.