Army West Point Athletics
Friday, November 6
Colorado Springs, CO
2 PM ET
Army West Point
at
Air Force
No. 8 Men’s Rugby Concludes Season at Air Force
November 06, 2015 | Men's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The eighth-ranked Army West Point men's rugby team will wrap up the fall portion of its 2015-16 slate on Friday, traveling to Colorado Springs, Colo., for a meeting with the Falcons.
Army (5-2-0) will kickoff with its service academy foe at 2 p.m. ET.
HOW TO FOLLOW
As always, fan can visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for up-to-date information and follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_MRugby and Instagram @armywprugby for live updates. Fans are also encouraged to download the app Periscope to follow along with the team in Colorado Springs.
THE GAME
The eighth-ranked Army West Point men's rugby team will conclude its fall competitions on Friday as the Black Knights take to Colorado Springs, Colo., for a 2 p.m. meeting with the Falcons.
"We certainly expect a physical, hard-fought game," said head coach Matt Sherman. "I wouldn't say it's been the sole focus of the week, but it is something that we know we're going to have to do.
"I think the key is finding the balance with our emotions. Of course we want to utilize and get energy from the emotion that we gain but we can't let it take us over. I think, to some degree, that happened against Kutztown and in the previous game, where we let the desire to win overwhelm our ability to focus on our performance, plan and execution. I think we need to find that balance on Friday. Bringing effort, energy and physicality but focusing on our roles, details and execution."
ARMY'S LAST TIME OUT
The Black Knights are coming off of their second straight loss of the season after dropping a 39-26 decision at Rugby East powerhouse Kutztown on Oct. 24.
Army got on the board first in the fourth minute, as Mitchell Sanderson scored a slow ball try, with Thomas Del Pino converting the score to put the Black Knights up 7-0.
Kutztown responded with a score in the eighth minute to cut the Black Knights' lead to 7-5.
The game slowed down over the next 13 minutes until Kutztown found the try zone again to take the 10-7 advantage.
Firstie Andrew Irwin dotted down in the 26th minute and Del Pino booted the kick again to give Army the 14-10 lead.
The Golden Bears closed the game out with a swing of momentum, scoring in the 34th and 39th minutes to head into the break with a 22-14 lead.
Army set the pace in the second half, with Irwin scoring his second of the contest and Del Pino converting the try to cut Kutztown's lead to 22-21.
Three unanswered tries and one successful kick for the Golden Bears would extend their lead to 39-21 through 76 minutes of play.
Harrison Farrell scored in the waning minutes of play to cut the lead to 39-26, but time was not on Army's side as the Golden Bears earned the victory.
AIR FORCE'S LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons are coming off of a 41-30 loss at No. 4 Utah. The Zoomies opened the season with a win at Wyoming, but dropped a 56-13 decision at Colorado State. They rebounded with a tight victory over Colorado before last weekend's loss to Utah.
LAST YEAR VS AIR FORCE
Last season, Army earned a thrilling 19-17 victory over the Falcons, as it bested Air Force under the lights from Anderson Rugby Complex on Halloween.
A try in the second half from Andy Sullivan and an Andrew Borer conversion lifted the third-ranked Black Knights to a 19-17 victory over eighth-ranked and service academy foe Air Force.
Sullivan's try came in the 68th minute, with Borer's kick putting Army on top for the first time since the 27th minute. Both Sullivan and Borer did not start the game but came in replacement of injured starters Jake Lachina and Logan Pearce.
Air Force missed two penalty kicks early on to keep the game scoreless through the beginning of play. Army suffered a huge blow midway through the first half, as starting fullback and vice-captain Pearce left the game due to injury.
In the 21st minute, Army opened up the scoring with Jamison Geracci scoring the try and Borer succeeding on the kick to put the Black Knights up 7-0.
Air Force would rattle off two tries, a conversion and a penalty kick to send Army into the break trailing 17-7.
In the second half, David Huff broke free down the far side of the field, recording a try in the 45th minute to pull Army with five.
Following Huff's score, Air Force dominated possession as it appeared the game was getting away from the Black Knights.
In the 58th minute, Air Force was within inches of a score but a penalty gave possession back to the Black Knights who were able to march the ball down into Falcons' territory. Air Force was issued a yellow card in the 62nd minute with the ball deep in their own territory, allowing Army to put on the pressure.
The Black Knights threatened but Air Force was able to keep the ball out of the try zone until the 68th minute when Sullivan broke free.
Leading 19-17 and performing in front of a gigantic crowd at Anderson Rugby Complex, the Black Knights were unable to hold on to the ball with neither team gaining possession for an extended period of time.
The Falcons were awarded a penalty kick, with the opportunity to take the lead, in the 76th minute, but the ball sailed wide.
Army maintained possession of the ball for a majority of the waning minutes, holding on for the 19-17 victory.
ARMY WHO TO WATCH: ANDREW FARGO
A force to be reckoned with, junior Andrew Fargo provides a consistent scoring touch for the Black Knights. Recording a team-high five tries on the season with scores against Buffalo, St. Bonaventure and Iona, the Falcons will need to develop a strong defensive plan to stop the Del Mar, Calif., native.
"I think what I like most about Fargo is that he's constantly trying to improve," said head coach Matt Sherman. "I think he has had ups and downs throughout this semester but one thing that has been unwavering is his enthusiasm and desire to get better. He's been making improvements and he's due to continue to improve."
BYE WEEK PRACTICE
Army is coming off of its bye week following a seven-week regular season, in addition to two pre-season scrimmages. The Black Knights took the week to focus on fundamentals and conditioning and are hoping to translate that energy on the field on Friday evening.
"It was nice for us to get a bye week, we've been nine weeks straight and it was nice for the guys to have one weekend off to decompress," added head coach Matt Sherman. "I think coming off of two losses, as well, this extra time has allowed us to refocus on our performance, rather than the results. I think that's what we can do during these games is focus on our performance."
NATIONAL RANKINGS
With the loss at Kutztown, the Black Knights fell one spot to No. 8 in the Canterbury D1A National Poll. Army spent a considerable amount of time as the nation's fifth-ranked team, opening the season in the spot and holding it until the jump to No. 4.
The Cadets have reached as high as the third spot, a position they held from Oct. 30, 2014-March 19 2015.
The D1A Top 20 Poll determines the 12 teams who advance into postseason play in the spring to play for a national championship. The Rugby East is well-represented among the nation's top squads, boasting five of the top-15 programs. Kutztown leads the way in the sixth spot, followed by Army at No. 8. Penn State checks in at No. 9, with Wheeling Jesuit at No. 11 and Iona at No. 15.
ARMY COMMITS TO VARSITY CUP
United World Sports and the Varsity Cup universities announced Monday that the United States Military Academy at West Point and Penn State University have committed to the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship as the final 15th and 16th teams in the competition.
"Historically and on an annual basis, these two iconic institutions are among the very best rugby teams in the nation," said Jack Clark, the head coach at California and member of the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. "They have outstanding coaching and significant institutional support."
Army and Penn State bring their considerable rugby histories and success to the Varsity Cup, which is widely recognized as the most prestigious postseason championship tournament in the history of U.S. collegiate rugby.
"We are delighted to be joining the Varsity Cup Championship," said Black Knights head coach Matt Sherman, a former international player for the United States and former head coach of the Collegiate All-Americans. "We look forward to the opportunity to compete against these great institutions and rugby programs this upcoming spring, in particular our fellow service academies."
"We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this year's Varsity Cup," added Army West Point Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Boo Corrigan. "This will be a new and exciting challenge for our cadets and coach Matt Sherman as we compete on this national stage."
The 2016 Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship will commence with four rounds of single-elimination tournament play on April 9, with the quarterfinals contested April 16 and semifinals on April 23. The Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship final will take place on May 7. Tournament seedings and venues are expected to be announced shortly.
RUGBY EAST DOMINANCE
The Black Knights have been a formidable foe in the Rugby East, capturing the title in 2014 and earning an 11-2 conference record since the start of the 2014-15 season.
In the last 13 Rugby East contests, the Black Knights have outscored opponents by an average of 40.08-21.62. Army has held five opponents to 15 points or less, including both shutouts to open the season.
The 2015-16 squad features five of the eight All-Rugby East honorees from 2014-15. Andrew Fargo, Thomas Del Pino and David Huff landed on the first team, while vice-captain Jacob Banarhall earned second-team recognition and Peter Basnight garnered honorable mention honors.
BLOGGING WITH JACK
Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the men's rugby program, firstie Jack Ireland will be blogging for www.GoArmyWestPoint.com. Fans can follow along with the Black Knights as Ireland provides a special look inside the squad.
Those interested can visit the men's rugby page on www.GoArmyWestPoint.com and click on "cadet blogs" under the "more+" dropdown menu.
GOFF NAMED RUGBY EAST PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Four Rugby East victories to open the season have earned the Army West Point men's rugby team national attention, as captain Donny Goff has been the leader on and off the pitch for the fourth-ranked Black Knights. For his guidance and impact on the pitch, Goff was named the Rugby East Player of the month on Oct. 2.
"I couldn't do anything without my team," Goff said, "my Brother to my left and my Brother to my right. As a group we fight for 80 minutes and never give up. Each and every guy on the pitch has contributed to our success so far this season and we'll continue to get better every day."
As the team's captain, Goff provides the vocal leadership for the Black Knights, backing up his words with hard-work and tough play. He scored a try in the team's 48-0 blanking of Buffalo to start off the season.
"Donny is a leader in every aspect of his life," said head coach Matt Sherman. "He constantly strives to achieve his best and improves his standard in everything he does. It's no different on the rugby field where he works hard to get the most of himself and the team."
Army opened the year with back-to-back dominant performances, claiming a pair of shutout wins over Buffalo and St. Bonaventure. The Black Knights were faced with a bit of adversity in a highly penalized Wheeling Jesuit match but were able to come away with the 35-23 win to remain unbeaten on the season. At eighth-ranked Penn State, Goff captained a team that earned a hard-fought 46-36 victory on the road.
A consummate professional, Goff credits his teammates with much of his success. Joined by vice-captain Jacob Banarhall, 19 different Black Knights have found their way to the score sheet in six contests. Army is averaging 45.5 points per game, surrendering just 19.2.
HUFF EARNS AAA HONORS
Scoring two tries in the second half to lead the Army to a 46-36 victory over eighth-ranked Penn State has earned yearling David Huff the title of Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week.
This is the first Athlete of the Week honor for Huff who has amassed a team-leading 18 tries since the group joined the Army Athletic Association in August of 2014.
In the 69th minute of action, with Penn State attempting to mount a comeback and the Army lead at just 10, Huff scored his first of the evening with a burst of speed down the far side of the field.
He would find the try zone again in the 77th minute, dotting down to put the game out of reach for the Nittany Lions.
On the year, Huff has posted three tries in three matches, earning his first of the season in the 35-23 win over Wheeling Jesuit before his two-score performance at Penn State. His 18 tries since the start of the 2014-15 season account for 11 percent of the team's total offense
ARMY IN THE PRESS
The men's and women's rugby teams were featured in a piece written by Martin Pengelly of the Guardian US, documenting the history of the program since it made a tour of the UK in 2002.
The story connects the audience with the Class of 2002, the first to graduate from West Point in a time of war since the Vietnam era. It also tells the story of the three 2002 graduates who have lost their lives in the time since leaving the Academy.
To read the piece, view the features section on www.GoArmyWestPoint.com through the men's rugby page.
ARMY RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND
With the addition of New Zealander Marty Veale to the coaching staff, the Army team has been gaining popularity in the country. Recently, New Zealand TV program Q&A visited the Black Knights during practice to film a feature, featuring Veale, head coach Matt Sherman, captain Donny Goff, vice-captain Jacob Banarhall and firstie Jack Ireland.
To view the footage, visit http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/military-academy-incorporates-rugby-video-6400118.
SHERMAN ERA
The 2015-16 season ushers in a new chapter for the Black Knights as it officially kicks off the Matt Sherman era. The former All-American and national team member's hiring was announced on Aug. 11 by Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. Sherman joins the Black Knights staff after a five-year tenure as the Director of Rugby at Stanford. With his hiring, he becomes the first full-time coach in Army West Point men's rugby history, filling the void after Mike Mahan announced his retirement in May. The men's rugby program joined the Army Athletic Association in August 2014.
"I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Army West Point men's rugby program," stated Sherman. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join one of the great institutions of leadership, dedicated to service of our country, as well as a rugby program with a distinguished tradition and history. I am proud to become your head coach and excited to get to work on the challenges ahead."
Since 2011, Sherman has led all rugby efforts at Stanford, including coaching, staffing, recruiting, administration and scheduling for both the men's and women's programs. Under his tutelage, the men's team reached the national quarterfinals twice and the women's program advanced to the national final four three times. In addition, he helped the rugby programs fundraise more than $1 million and increased admitted recruits from zero to seven.
While leading the Cardinal program, Sherman also served as the Men's College All-Americans Head Coach from 2012-2014. In both of his years with the team, he earned a winning record and more than 50 percent of his athletes moved on to play for the senior men's national team.
From 2009-11, Sherman worked with the U.S. Men's National Team as an assistant coach, working with the back line. His squad produced a victory over Russia in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Sherman is joined at West Point by his wife, Kristen, daughter, Piper (infant), and dog, Cooper.
FARGO NAMED D1A NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a two-score performance in the season-opener against Buffalo, Andrew Fargo earned the distinction as the D1A National Player of the week on Sept. 17. He ranks second amongst the Black Knights with four tries on the season, earning a pair of scores against Buffalo and St. Bonaventure.
Last season, the Del Mar, Calif., native was named to the All-Rugby East first team squad, garnered All-American Collegiate Rugby Conference first team recognition, was selected to play for the All-Army team at the Las Vegas 7s 2015 Men's ACR Tournament, was named the AAA Athlete of the Week once during the spring and scored a try against Davenport, which earned AAA Play of the Week. He's recorded 14 career tries since joining the Army Athletic Association in August of 2014.
RUGBY EAST EXPANSION
Rugby East teams will gain a new rival this season as the Mountaineers of West Virginia join the conference. The Mountaineers posted a successful 2014-15 season, capturing the Keystone Conference title in 15s action and qualifying for the USA Rugby College 7s National Championships.
Army met with the Mountaineers for the first time on Oct. 10, claiming a 63-13 victory from Morgantown, W.Va.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
The 2015-16 squad will be captained by senior Donny Goff, with Jacob Banarhall serving as the vice-captain.
Goff, a prop from Framingham, Mass., was not active on the fall 2014 roster due to injury. He rejoined the team in the spring, recording a score in Army's 37-0 victory over Seton Hall at the Four Leafs Tournament and earning the start in the team's meetings with UMass, Navy, St. Mary's and Davenport. He opened the 2015-16 season with a try against Buffalo, scoring in the 10th minute of action.
A native of Auburn, N.H., Banarhall earned the start in each of the team's nine fall contests. He recorded two scores in the fall, posting tries against Iona and Buffalo. During the spring, he tied for second on the team with five tries, earning two scores against Stony Brook in the title game of the Four Leafs Tournament. He led a second-half comeback in the match with Navy, scoring three times, including the game-tying score and go ahead marks. He was named to the All-Rugby East second team in the fall and posted his first try of the 2015-16 season at Penn State in the 46-36 victory.
CADET CHAIN OF COMMAND
Three members of the men's rugby team have been elected into positions of leadership in the cadet chain of command, representing the largest contingent of any corps squad team at the Academy. Andrew Borer leads the way as the 4th Regimental Commander, while Cameron Hargis earns the title of 1st Regimental Command Sergeant Major and Donny Goff serves as the 3rd Regimental Command Sergeant Major.
CLASS RINGS
The Class of 2016 received their class rings in a ceremony held at Trophy Point on Aug. 28, 2015. A time-honored West Point tradition, the Class of 2016's rings contain gold from 356 West Point graduates donated to the West Point Association of Graduates in addition to steel melted down from the World Trade Center.
FARGO TRAVELS TO NEW ZEALAND
Cow Andrew Fargo closed out his summer training at the Crusaders International High Performance Unit on the South Island of New Zealand, working alongside many international players.
Fargo, who led the Black Knights' spring 15s squad with six tries, had a spectacular sophomore campaign, earning All-Rugby East first team honors in the fall. He was tabbed the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the week following his performance in the win over UMass and his impressive score against Davenport earned him the Army Athletic Association Play of the Week. He recorded two tries in the season-opener against Buffalo and another pair in the win over St. Bonaventure.
Documenting his excursion, Fargo kept a blog of his experiences in the hot bed of international rugby. Visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for more information.
UP NEXT
The Black Knights will receive some well-deserved rest for the remainder of the year, as the final part of the 2015-16 schedule is not slated to get underway until early spring.
"It would be tremendous for us to finish the fall with a win," added head coach Matt Sherman. "But the most important thing for us is to finish the fall with our best performance of the year. I think, unfortunately we've stumbled a bit on being an improving team over the last few weeks, and we want to get back to that; being an improving team, performing at our best level so far this year."
Visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for more information as the spring schedule becomes available.
Army (5-2-0) will kickoff with its service academy foe at 2 p.m. ET.
HOW TO FOLLOW
As always, fan can visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for up-to-date information and follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_MRugby and Instagram @armywprugby for live updates. Fans are also encouraged to download the app Periscope to follow along with the team in Colorado Springs.
THE GAME
The eighth-ranked Army West Point men's rugby team will conclude its fall competitions on Friday as the Black Knights take to Colorado Springs, Colo., for a 2 p.m. meeting with the Falcons.
"We certainly expect a physical, hard-fought game," said head coach Matt Sherman. "I wouldn't say it's been the sole focus of the week, but it is something that we know we're going to have to do.
"I think the key is finding the balance with our emotions. Of course we want to utilize and get energy from the emotion that we gain but we can't let it take us over. I think, to some degree, that happened against Kutztown and in the previous game, where we let the desire to win overwhelm our ability to focus on our performance, plan and execution. I think we need to find that balance on Friday. Bringing effort, energy and physicality but focusing on our roles, details and execution."
ARMY'S LAST TIME OUT
The Black Knights are coming off of their second straight loss of the season after dropping a 39-26 decision at Rugby East powerhouse Kutztown on Oct. 24.
Army got on the board first in the fourth minute, as Mitchell Sanderson scored a slow ball try, with Thomas Del Pino converting the score to put the Black Knights up 7-0.
Kutztown responded with a score in the eighth minute to cut the Black Knights' lead to 7-5.
The game slowed down over the next 13 minutes until Kutztown found the try zone again to take the 10-7 advantage.
Firstie Andrew Irwin dotted down in the 26th minute and Del Pino booted the kick again to give Army the 14-10 lead.
The Golden Bears closed the game out with a swing of momentum, scoring in the 34th and 39th minutes to head into the break with a 22-14 lead.
Army set the pace in the second half, with Irwin scoring his second of the contest and Del Pino converting the try to cut Kutztown's lead to 22-21.
Three unanswered tries and one successful kick for the Golden Bears would extend their lead to 39-21 through 76 minutes of play.
Harrison Farrell scored in the waning minutes of play to cut the lead to 39-26, but time was not on Army's side as the Golden Bears earned the victory.
AIR FORCE'S LAST TIME OUT
The Falcons are coming off of a 41-30 loss at No. 4 Utah. The Zoomies opened the season with a win at Wyoming, but dropped a 56-13 decision at Colorado State. They rebounded with a tight victory over Colorado before last weekend's loss to Utah.
LAST YEAR VS AIR FORCE
Last season, Army earned a thrilling 19-17 victory over the Falcons, as it bested Air Force under the lights from Anderson Rugby Complex on Halloween.
A try in the second half from Andy Sullivan and an Andrew Borer conversion lifted the third-ranked Black Knights to a 19-17 victory over eighth-ranked and service academy foe Air Force.
Sullivan's try came in the 68th minute, with Borer's kick putting Army on top for the first time since the 27th minute. Both Sullivan and Borer did not start the game but came in replacement of injured starters Jake Lachina and Logan Pearce.
Air Force missed two penalty kicks early on to keep the game scoreless through the beginning of play. Army suffered a huge blow midway through the first half, as starting fullback and vice-captain Pearce left the game due to injury.
In the 21st minute, Army opened up the scoring with Jamison Geracci scoring the try and Borer succeeding on the kick to put the Black Knights up 7-0.
Air Force would rattle off two tries, a conversion and a penalty kick to send Army into the break trailing 17-7.
In the second half, David Huff broke free down the far side of the field, recording a try in the 45th minute to pull Army with five.
Following Huff's score, Air Force dominated possession as it appeared the game was getting away from the Black Knights.
In the 58th minute, Air Force was within inches of a score but a penalty gave possession back to the Black Knights who were able to march the ball down into Falcons' territory. Air Force was issued a yellow card in the 62nd minute with the ball deep in their own territory, allowing Army to put on the pressure.
The Black Knights threatened but Air Force was able to keep the ball out of the try zone until the 68th minute when Sullivan broke free.
Leading 19-17 and performing in front of a gigantic crowd at Anderson Rugby Complex, the Black Knights were unable to hold on to the ball with neither team gaining possession for an extended period of time.
The Falcons were awarded a penalty kick, with the opportunity to take the lead, in the 76th minute, but the ball sailed wide.
Army maintained possession of the ball for a majority of the waning minutes, holding on for the 19-17 victory.
ARMY WHO TO WATCH: ANDREW FARGO
A force to be reckoned with, junior Andrew Fargo provides a consistent scoring touch for the Black Knights. Recording a team-high five tries on the season with scores against Buffalo, St. Bonaventure and Iona, the Falcons will need to develop a strong defensive plan to stop the Del Mar, Calif., native.
"I think what I like most about Fargo is that he's constantly trying to improve," said head coach Matt Sherman. "I think he has had ups and downs throughout this semester but one thing that has been unwavering is his enthusiasm and desire to get better. He's been making improvements and he's due to continue to improve."
BYE WEEK PRACTICE
Army is coming off of its bye week following a seven-week regular season, in addition to two pre-season scrimmages. The Black Knights took the week to focus on fundamentals and conditioning and are hoping to translate that energy on the field on Friday evening.
"It was nice for us to get a bye week, we've been nine weeks straight and it was nice for the guys to have one weekend off to decompress," added head coach Matt Sherman. "I think coming off of two losses, as well, this extra time has allowed us to refocus on our performance, rather than the results. I think that's what we can do during these games is focus on our performance."
NATIONAL RANKINGS
With the loss at Kutztown, the Black Knights fell one spot to No. 8 in the Canterbury D1A National Poll. Army spent a considerable amount of time as the nation's fifth-ranked team, opening the season in the spot and holding it until the jump to No. 4.
The Cadets have reached as high as the third spot, a position they held from Oct. 30, 2014-March 19 2015.
The D1A Top 20 Poll determines the 12 teams who advance into postseason play in the spring to play for a national championship. The Rugby East is well-represented among the nation's top squads, boasting five of the top-15 programs. Kutztown leads the way in the sixth spot, followed by Army at No. 8. Penn State checks in at No. 9, with Wheeling Jesuit at No. 11 and Iona at No. 15.
ARMY COMMITS TO VARSITY CUP
United World Sports and the Varsity Cup universities announced Monday that the United States Military Academy at West Point and Penn State University have committed to the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship as the final 15th and 16th teams in the competition.
"Historically and on an annual basis, these two iconic institutions are among the very best rugby teams in the nation," said Jack Clark, the head coach at California and member of the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame. "They have outstanding coaching and significant institutional support."
Army and Penn State bring their considerable rugby histories and success to the Varsity Cup, which is widely recognized as the most prestigious postseason championship tournament in the history of U.S. collegiate rugby.
"We are delighted to be joining the Varsity Cup Championship," said Black Knights head coach Matt Sherman, a former international player for the United States and former head coach of the Collegiate All-Americans. "We look forward to the opportunity to compete against these great institutions and rugby programs this upcoming spring, in particular our fellow service academies."
"We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this year's Varsity Cup," added Army West Point Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Boo Corrigan. "This will be a new and exciting challenge for our cadets and coach Matt Sherman as we compete on this national stage."
The 2016 Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship will commence with four rounds of single-elimination tournament play on April 9, with the quarterfinals contested April 16 and semifinals on April 23. The Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby Championship final will take place on May 7. Tournament seedings and venues are expected to be announced shortly.
RUGBY EAST DOMINANCE
The Black Knights have been a formidable foe in the Rugby East, capturing the title in 2014 and earning an 11-2 conference record since the start of the 2014-15 season.
In the last 13 Rugby East contests, the Black Knights have outscored opponents by an average of 40.08-21.62. Army has held five opponents to 15 points or less, including both shutouts to open the season.
The 2015-16 squad features five of the eight All-Rugby East honorees from 2014-15. Andrew Fargo, Thomas Del Pino and David Huff landed on the first team, while vice-captain Jacob Banarhall earned second-team recognition and Peter Basnight garnered honorable mention honors.
BLOGGING WITH JACK
Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the men's rugby program, firstie Jack Ireland will be blogging for www.GoArmyWestPoint.com. Fans can follow along with the Black Knights as Ireland provides a special look inside the squad.
Those interested can visit the men's rugby page on www.GoArmyWestPoint.com and click on "cadet blogs" under the "more+" dropdown menu.
GOFF NAMED RUGBY EAST PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Four Rugby East victories to open the season have earned the Army West Point men's rugby team national attention, as captain Donny Goff has been the leader on and off the pitch for the fourth-ranked Black Knights. For his guidance and impact on the pitch, Goff was named the Rugby East Player of the month on Oct. 2.
"I couldn't do anything without my team," Goff said, "my Brother to my left and my Brother to my right. As a group we fight for 80 minutes and never give up. Each and every guy on the pitch has contributed to our success so far this season and we'll continue to get better every day."
As the team's captain, Goff provides the vocal leadership for the Black Knights, backing up his words with hard-work and tough play. He scored a try in the team's 48-0 blanking of Buffalo to start off the season.
"Donny is a leader in every aspect of his life," said head coach Matt Sherman. "He constantly strives to achieve his best and improves his standard in everything he does. It's no different on the rugby field where he works hard to get the most of himself and the team."
Army opened the year with back-to-back dominant performances, claiming a pair of shutout wins over Buffalo and St. Bonaventure. The Black Knights were faced with a bit of adversity in a highly penalized Wheeling Jesuit match but were able to come away with the 35-23 win to remain unbeaten on the season. At eighth-ranked Penn State, Goff captained a team that earned a hard-fought 46-36 victory on the road.
A consummate professional, Goff credits his teammates with much of his success. Joined by vice-captain Jacob Banarhall, 19 different Black Knights have found their way to the score sheet in six contests. Army is averaging 45.5 points per game, surrendering just 19.2.
HUFF EARNS AAA HONORS
Scoring two tries in the second half to lead the Army to a 46-36 victory over eighth-ranked Penn State has earned yearling David Huff the title of Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week.
This is the first Athlete of the Week honor for Huff who has amassed a team-leading 18 tries since the group joined the Army Athletic Association in August of 2014.
In the 69th minute of action, with Penn State attempting to mount a comeback and the Army lead at just 10, Huff scored his first of the evening with a burst of speed down the far side of the field.
He would find the try zone again in the 77th minute, dotting down to put the game out of reach for the Nittany Lions.
On the year, Huff has posted three tries in three matches, earning his first of the season in the 35-23 win over Wheeling Jesuit before his two-score performance at Penn State. His 18 tries since the start of the 2014-15 season account for 11 percent of the team's total offense
ARMY IN THE PRESS
The men's and women's rugby teams were featured in a piece written by Martin Pengelly of the Guardian US, documenting the history of the program since it made a tour of the UK in 2002.
The story connects the audience with the Class of 2002, the first to graduate from West Point in a time of war since the Vietnam era. It also tells the story of the three 2002 graduates who have lost their lives in the time since leaving the Academy.
To read the piece, view the features section on www.GoArmyWestPoint.com through the men's rugby page.
ARMY RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND
With the addition of New Zealander Marty Veale to the coaching staff, the Army team has been gaining popularity in the country. Recently, New Zealand TV program Q&A visited the Black Knights during practice to film a feature, featuring Veale, head coach Matt Sherman, captain Donny Goff, vice-captain Jacob Banarhall and firstie Jack Ireland.
To view the footage, visit http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/military-academy-incorporates-rugby-video-6400118.
SHERMAN ERA
The 2015-16 season ushers in a new chapter for the Black Knights as it officially kicks off the Matt Sherman era. The former All-American and national team member's hiring was announced on Aug. 11 by Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. Sherman joins the Black Knights staff after a five-year tenure as the Director of Rugby at Stanford. With his hiring, he becomes the first full-time coach in Army West Point men's rugby history, filling the void after Mike Mahan announced his retirement in May. The men's rugby program joined the Army Athletic Association in August 2014.
"I am honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Army West Point men's rugby program," stated Sherman. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join one of the great institutions of leadership, dedicated to service of our country, as well as a rugby program with a distinguished tradition and history. I am proud to become your head coach and excited to get to work on the challenges ahead."
Since 2011, Sherman has led all rugby efforts at Stanford, including coaching, staffing, recruiting, administration and scheduling for both the men's and women's programs. Under his tutelage, the men's team reached the national quarterfinals twice and the women's program advanced to the national final four three times. In addition, he helped the rugby programs fundraise more than $1 million and increased admitted recruits from zero to seven.
While leading the Cardinal program, Sherman also served as the Men's College All-Americans Head Coach from 2012-2014. In both of his years with the team, he earned a winning record and more than 50 percent of his athletes moved on to play for the senior men's national team.
From 2009-11, Sherman worked with the U.S. Men's National Team as an assistant coach, working with the back line. His squad produced a victory over Russia in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Sherman is joined at West Point by his wife, Kristen, daughter, Piper (infant), and dog, Cooper.
FARGO NAMED D1A NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a two-score performance in the season-opener against Buffalo, Andrew Fargo earned the distinction as the D1A National Player of the week on Sept. 17. He ranks second amongst the Black Knights with four tries on the season, earning a pair of scores against Buffalo and St. Bonaventure.
Last season, the Del Mar, Calif., native was named to the All-Rugby East first team squad, garnered All-American Collegiate Rugby Conference first team recognition, was selected to play for the All-Army team at the Las Vegas 7s 2015 Men's ACR Tournament, was named the AAA Athlete of the Week once during the spring and scored a try against Davenport, which earned AAA Play of the Week. He's recorded 14 career tries since joining the Army Athletic Association in August of 2014.
RUGBY EAST EXPANSION
Rugby East teams will gain a new rival this season as the Mountaineers of West Virginia join the conference. The Mountaineers posted a successful 2014-15 season, capturing the Keystone Conference title in 15s action and qualifying for the USA Rugby College 7s National Championships.
Army met with the Mountaineers for the first time on Oct. 10, claiming a 63-13 victory from Morgantown, W.Va.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
The 2015-16 squad will be captained by senior Donny Goff, with Jacob Banarhall serving as the vice-captain.
Goff, a prop from Framingham, Mass., was not active on the fall 2014 roster due to injury. He rejoined the team in the spring, recording a score in Army's 37-0 victory over Seton Hall at the Four Leafs Tournament and earning the start in the team's meetings with UMass, Navy, St. Mary's and Davenport. He opened the 2015-16 season with a try against Buffalo, scoring in the 10th minute of action.
A native of Auburn, N.H., Banarhall earned the start in each of the team's nine fall contests. He recorded two scores in the fall, posting tries against Iona and Buffalo. During the spring, he tied for second on the team with five tries, earning two scores against Stony Brook in the title game of the Four Leafs Tournament. He led a second-half comeback in the match with Navy, scoring three times, including the game-tying score and go ahead marks. He was named to the All-Rugby East second team in the fall and posted his first try of the 2015-16 season at Penn State in the 46-36 victory.
CADET CHAIN OF COMMAND
Three members of the men's rugby team have been elected into positions of leadership in the cadet chain of command, representing the largest contingent of any corps squad team at the Academy. Andrew Borer leads the way as the 4th Regimental Commander, while Cameron Hargis earns the title of 1st Regimental Command Sergeant Major and Donny Goff serves as the 3rd Regimental Command Sergeant Major.
CLASS RINGS
The Class of 2016 received their class rings in a ceremony held at Trophy Point on Aug. 28, 2015. A time-honored West Point tradition, the Class of 2016's rings contain gold from 356 West Point graduates donated to the West Point Association of Graduates in addition to steel melted down from the World Trade Center.
FARGO TRAVELS TO NEW ZEALAND
Cow Andrew Fargo closed out his summer training at the Crusaders International High Performance Unit on the South Island of New Zealand, working alongside many international players.
Fargo, who led the Black Knights' spring 15s squad with six tries, had a spectacular sophomore campaign, earning All-Rugby East first team honors in the fall. He was tabbed the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the week following his performance in the win over UMass and his impressive score against Davenport earned him the Army Athletic Association Play of the Week. He recorded two tries in the season-opener against Buffalo and another pair in the win over St. Bonaventure.
Documenting his excursion, Fargo kept a blog of his experiences in the hot bed of international rugby. Visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for more information.
UP NEXT
The Black Knights will receive some well-deserved rest for the remainder of the year, as the final part of the 2015-16 schedule is not slated to get underway until early spring.
"It would be tremendous for us to finish the fall with a win," added head coach Matt Sherman. "But the most important thing for us is to finish the fall with our best performance of the year. I think, unfortunately we've stumbled a bit on being an improving team over the last few weeks, and we want to get back to that; being an improving team, performing at our best level so far this year."
Visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for more information as the spring schedule becomes available.
Players Mentioned
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Flanker
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