SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Franciscan rugby team opened the season against the newest member of the Three Rivers Rugby Conference, Slippery Rock, and posted a 35-12 win on Saturday.
 
Led by Captain Josh Leatherby and co-captain Rafe Lewis, the ruggers were rusty to start the match, dropping a few passes, missing tackles, and ceding penalties as SRU were steady in its attack. Despite the errors, the Barons proved resilient and buckled down when a high tackle rewarded them with a penalty kick. Junior PJ Ernst converted with a booming kick to score the team's first points of the early season.
 
As the team settled down and found their bearings, the points started coming in waves. Senior David Prezzia upped the team's score with a dazzling display of skill and finesse, ending his 25-meter dash with a leap over the last defender to dot down the team's first try of the season as Ernst converted the kick after. Once up 10-0, frustration began to grip SRU as they committed several high tackles and received a yellow card, which sends the offending player off the pitch for 10 minutes, leaving Slippery Rock short a player.
 
Franciscan went on to score two more tries in the half with a spectacular 40-meter jaunt by Lewis, zig zagging through several SRU players and out racing them to touch it down. Luke Orsay wrapped up the scoring touch with a hard-fought run only to get high tackled at the try line and awarded a penalty try.
 
Up 22-0 at the half, the Barons settled in and took advantage in the second half when SRU was docked a red card and played the rest of the match minus a player. FUS controlled possession for much of the half with Prezzia snatching an errant SRU pass and galloping for his second try of the day and a commanding 27-0 lead. Ernst once again slotted a penalty kick to bring the tally to 30.
 
SRU was finally able to put points on the board with a nifty move by their #13. They managed to score again to make it a respectable 27-12 game at that point. Not willing to end the game on a sour note, scrumhalf Anthony Hobbs deftly ran a pick and go off the scrum and with support to freeze the opposing defender, Hobbs was able to walk in and dot it down and put the exclamation mark on the final.
 
Prezzia was named Man of the Match with a resounding two tries and several off-loading runs in leading the team to a 35-12 victory. Head Coach Jason Adams was able to notch his ?rst career win in the process.
 
Next up is another tough opponent as well as a rivalry match with Robert Morris University on Thursday September 12 at 7:30 pm in Pittsburgh, Pa.