The Rugby Club began the season with numerous questions. The loss of several starters from the fall, the addition of four new starters — Ben Alibozek, Jonathon Kolis, Justin Pelczynski and Walter Pecor  — and a new system of play introduced by coach Glenn Lawson all combined to raise concerns for the spring. 

 

These fears quickly evaporated six minutes into the first half when outside center Kelly Lewis tiptoed down the left sidelines and into the endzone to given MCLA an early 5-0 lead.  The conversion was wide. The next 15 minutes was a seesaw battle with both team showing both good skills — and a little rust — with nothing to show except for furious action. At the 30-minute mark, Southern Vermont drove over for their first score, and with the conversion a 7-5 lead. The Eagles struck again to increase their lead to 12-5 only a few minutes later.

 

Rather than get discouraged this seemed to fire up the ruggers. In the next eight minutes, Alibozek plowed through the middle to cut their lead to 12-10 and then Pecor fielded a SVC kick and raced down the right side line give the Trailblazers a 15-12 lead at halftime.

 

The start of the second half saw both teams score early. Pelczynski ran one in for MCLA to up the lead to 20-12, but Southern Vermont scored moments later to cut it back to 20-17. Things were looking good when scrumhalf Tommy Chiang passed out to Pecor, who broke several tackles on his way in to the endzone for his second score of the day. With Pecor now kicking conversions, he increased the MCLA lead to 27-17 with only eight minutes to play.  However, a defensive lapse permitted the Eagles another quick score. With five minutes remaining, MCLA held a 27-22 lead.

 

At this point, J.J. Kolis, who had left the match because of an ankle injury, returned. The ruggers drove the ball down the field with Kolis breaking a tackle to race 30 yards into the endzone as time expired. With a second Pecor conversion, the final was set, 34-22.

 

The rugby club will travel to Burlington to face off against Champlain College this Sunday.