Monthly Archives: December 2024

No. 2 BGSU Men’s Club Rugby Set for National Title Showdown with No. 1 Kentucky

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By Vincent Briedis, BGSU Strategic Communications

Vincent Briedis has been the Assistant Athletics Director of Strategic Communications since July 2021. A member of the senior staff, Briedis is the primary spokesperson for BGSU Athletics and is the primary media contact for football and gymnastics. 

Thanks to Vincent for permission to post this article on Maxwell Media Watch.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University (BGSU) club men’s rugby team is on the cusp of glory, preparing to face the University of Kentucky in the Division I-AA National Championship. The match is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday at SaberCats Stadium in Houston, Texas. Fans can watch the action live via subscription on The Rugby Network.

The championship game features the top two teams in the NCR Division I-AA rankings: the undefeated No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 2 Bowling Green Falcons. Both programs enter the match as conference champions, with Kentucky reigning in the Southern Collegiate Rugby Conference (SCRC) and BGSU reclaiming dominance in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Kentucky, the defending national champion, has been strong this season, boasting an 11-0-2 record. The Wildcats captured their second consecutive SCRC title and are seeking back-to-back national championships, having won the 2023 crown in commanding fashion over Louisville. BGSU is looking for its second-ever national title and first since 2018.

The Falcons, meanwhile, bring a 12-1 record to the final, fueled by a season of physical play and clutch performances. The team’s recent victories over Clemson (29-18) and Virginia Tech (20-18) in the Collegiate Rugby Championship Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds demonstrated their ability to win under pressure.

A Battle of Styles
The matchup promises to be a fierce contest between two well-rounded teams. BGSU’s forward pack, led by senior No. 8 Phil Tracey, is a key strength, with the Falcons excelling in the scrum and lineout. Kentucky’s balanced attack and championship pedigree, however, present a formidable challenge.

For Bowling Green, the path to Houston has been paved with resilience and thrilling finishes. After overcoming a 20-point deficit to beat Louisville 34-33 for the MAC title, the Falcons edged Virginia Tech with a dramatic 20-18 victory to secure their spot in the championship game.

Kentucky, on the other hand, has cruised through its schedule, relying on a blend of skill and discipline. As reigning champions, they are no strangers to the pressure of high-stakes rugby.

A Legacy of Excellence
Both teams carry rich traditions into the championship. Kentucky’s recent dominance underscores its rise as a national power, while Bowling Green boasts one of the longest championship-winning streaks in collegiate athletics, with 42 MAC titles since 1982 and a national championship in 2018. Fans can expect 80 minutes of hard-hitting rugby as these top programs vie for the national title. Whether it’s Kentucky seeking to repeat or Bowling Green aiming to reclaim the crown, this championship clash is set to deliver a memorable finish to the season.

Note: Fans can watch the action live via subscription on @therugbynetwork. More details: https://bit.ly/4fhEoZH

Bowling Green Advances to NCR Nationals Semifinal with 29-18 Home Win Over Clemson

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Nico La Bianca, photo taken by Roger Mazzarella

By Fitzpatrick Metzger

Fitzpatrick Metzger is from Lakewood, Ohio, and is a graduate student at BGSU completing a masters in Sport Administration. He has a passion for soccer, rugby and sport analytics. In his free time, he is on the BG Rugby team as a player, club secretary, and SID.

December 3, 2024

Falcons set to face Virginia Tech in NCR Nationals Semifinals

Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green Men’s Rugby Team (11-1, 6-0 MAC, 1-0 Nationals) beat Clemson (4-3, 2-0 SCRC East) in a 29-18 victory in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) National Semifinal. BG now faces Virginia Tech (8-0-1, 4-0-1 MARC) in Reading, Pennsylvania in the semifinals for the NCR Nationals Tournament on December 7th, at 3 pm, at Penn State’s Berks Stadium.

“A hard fought game. WE did a really good job of dominating the first ten-fifteen minutes and put them under pressure. We let them off the hook a little bit by some missed kicks, putting ourselves back under pressure and really just had to ride that out,” said Head Coach Tony Mazzarella. “Eventually we got ahead of them and held on to it. It just ended up being our day.”

Going into the match Clemson was unknown. BG knew the Tigers could hold their own against tough competition, as shown in their 8-7 SCRC final loss to the reigning D1-AA NCR Champions Kentucky. Bowling Green came out strong and got a grip on the game. The change in field locations due to the week’s weather proved to be an important decision in eliminating some of the environmental conditions. Ultimately, the Falcons held their own and downed the Tigers with the help of vice-captain and 8-Man Phil Tracey who had three tries for a hat-trick.

“I think the boys have been playing very well this whole season, especially through this postseason. I’ve really just tried to play my part and give the boys big carries to play off,” said vice-captain Phil Tracey. “As for the scoring aspect I’ve just been blessed by my team and the Lord to have the opportunities to put the ball in the try zone and I’ve done my best to capitalize on those opportunities.”

The Falcons kicked off to start the MAC Final. Once again, a beautiful kick from Captain Joey Apel allowed the Falcons to reclaim the ball instantly. The Falcons went on the attack, working all the way into Clemson 22 (i.e., the equivalent of the ‘red zone’). Although the Falcons didn’t score on the opening drive, they dominated the open 15 minutes of the game putting pressure on the Tigers. Vice-captain and 8-Man Phil Tracey broke the stalemate and gave the Falcons their first lead. Clemson soon drove down the field to score and convert for their first lead of the game. Phil would again give the Falcons the lead with his second try and Joey Apel converted. Clemson punched one back before halftime. In the second half, Clemson took the lead with a penalty kick. Phil scores again, completing his hat-trick and sparking a 17-point unanswered run by the Falcons. Prop Evan Holderer scored off a powerful run and Joey Apel converted his second of the game. Nico LaBianca scored his first of the match making it 29-13 going into the final minutes of the game. Clemson ended the Falcon’s 17 point scoring run with a try; however, it wasn’t enough to win the match. Overall, the Falcons played a solid match, doing well to manage Clemson’s kicking game. BG was able to advance through the NCR National Tournament Semifinal with a 29-18 win.

NOTABLES

  • Phil Tracey scores his seventh try in postseason: 3x Clemson (NCR Quarterfinal), 2x Cincinnati (MAC Semifinal) and Louisville (MAC Final)
  • Falcons return to the National semifinal

Bowling Green (11-1, 6-0 MAC) will continue into the post-season following the 29-18 win over Clemson with the semifinal of the NCR 15s National Tournament. The Falcons will face the 2021 and 2022 NCR National Champions and 2024 Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference Champions Virginia Tech (8-0-1 Overall, 4-0-1 MARC) on Saturday, December 7th at 3 pm at Penn State’s Berks Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st XV

Bowling Green 29, Clemson18

  • Kickoff
  • 8-Man Phil Tracey opens the scoring (5-0)
  • Clemson scores and converts (5-7)
  • Tracey regains the Falcon’s lead with his second try (10-5)
  • Captain Joey Apel converts (12-5)
  • Clemson scores (12-10)
  • Halftime: (12-10)
  • Clemson scores a penalty kick (12-13)
  • Clemson misses a penalty kick (12-13)
  • Vice-captain Tracey scores his third of the game (17-13)
  • Prop Evan Holderer scores (22-13)
  • Captain Joey Apel converts his second (24-13)
  • Nico LaBianca scores (29-13)
  • Clemson score (29-18)
  • Final Score: 29-18