Franciscan rugby headed to Butler, Pennsylvania over the weekend to take on Slippery Rock University for the DIII ARU Conference Championship. In what has become an annual event for the last four years, both teams came into the matchup with purpose. For Slippery Rock, it was a chance to avenge their loss to Franciscan a few weeks ago, to knock off the #3 team, and to win their 4th straight championship. For Franciscan, it was a chance to win that elusive ARU championship. For both teams, it was also an opportunity to get the #1 ARU seed that comes with a bye and a short trip to Regionals in Columbus. In a match for the ages, both teams played as well as they could to be the victors.

With Franciscan short a few starters, they were able to score first, with Dominic Grecol scoring off a pick and go and Nathaniel Bateman slotting in the conversion kick after from a difficult angle, giving the Barons a 7-0 edge, 11 minutes into the match. With Lex Lang and Joseph Moleski (Joe Bob), the Barons executed several kicks to pin SRU back in their end and continued to threaten scoring more tries. The Rock held firm and after the Barons were assessed a yellow card, SRU was able to corral a drop kick out from the Barons' try zone and scored a try with little time left in the first half. They missed the kick conversion and Franciscan led 7-5 at the half.

The Barons scored quickly in the 2nd half, with Grecol executing a tap and go on a penalty and dove in for the try and Bateman again converted the kick for a 14-5 lead. Slippery Rock was able to score a try and converted kick eight minutes later to creep closer to the Barons lead, 14-12. Bateman nailed a penalty kick to up the Barons' lead to 17-12 a few minutes later. Slippery Rock countered with another try and conversion kick to take the lead at 19-17 with 20 minutes left to play. SRU again scored what would turn out to be the game winning try and with the kick after converted, upped their lead to 26 with the Barons still at 17. With five minutes remaining, Slippery Rock committed an infraction and the Barons decided to kick for points since they were down 9 points and needed the points. Bateman again made the penalty kick and the three points cut the Rock's lead to 6. Sitting with a 26-20 deficit with 5 minutes left, the Barons received the restart kick with the made penalty kick, and Slippery Rock held off the Baron attack to win 26-20.

Slippery Rock will head to the Columbus Regionals on November 22nd while Franciscan will face off with Susquehanna (MARC conference runner up) on November 15th in Butler, PA for the play-in qualifier. The winner will head to the South Regional in Rock Hill, SC while the loser will see its season end.

Paul Leerkes was named the Golden Man of the Match with his excellent overall play on defense and on the attack. Samuel King was named DAWG of the Match with his relentless tackling and support in the breakdowns. For the Barons, it was a tough loss to cope with, but they played well enough to win. They will move on and focus on their next opponent and look to eradicate the sourness of the loss. Kickoff is slated for 2pm at the Pullman Sports Complex on Saturday, November 15th. Franciscan congratulates Slippery Rock on the hard fought win, and wishes them good luck at their Regional.

Tries: Grecol 2
Conversion Kicks: Bateman 2
Penalty kicks: Bateman 2/2

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