Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Iona
Fresh Faces Fuel Cadets to Victory
September 20, 2019 | Men's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point men's rugby team came out re-energized at the Anderson Rugby Complex Friday night, as the ruggers took down Iona 51-11.
"I was really pleased with the performance," said head coach Matt Sherman. "We proved a lot in the areas that we targeted and I really liked that when we struggled, we found a way to get back on track."
After battling some early season injuries, Sherman plugged several new faces into the Army (2-2, 0-1) lineup versus the Gaels (1-3), including four freshmen in the starting fifteen. The plebes helped revitalize the Black Knights as they head into their bye week.
"It was fun to see them get the first chance to put on the uniform," added Sherman. "I thought they all did really well. It's more about their confidence and believing in themselves. We believe in them and at the end of the day it's another game of rugby and it's just going out and doing what they know how to do."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Army pressed the attack right out the gate and were rewarded when Joe Ryan was able to pound it in for the first score of the game.
- Iona responded with some pressure of their own on the offensive end -- forcing two PK attempts to take a 6-5 lead.
- After a strong attack, and scrum, Ben Vasta muscled his way through for a try. Jack Royston added a conversion to make it 12-6 Army.
- Freshman John Rizzo stormed down the field, evading defenders to extend the lead to 17-6.
- Firstie Marco Carrabotta kept it rolling for Army with the first of his two tries on the night right before the half to make it 25-6 Black Knights heading into the break.
- Drew Dunham kept the momentum going into the second half for Army with a nice try in the 48th minute.
- Carrabotta rumbled down the field for his second try in the 53rd minute to make it 34-6.
- Iona responded with the try in the 58th minute.
- After some tough defense, Dunham earns his second try for Army to make it 39-11.
- Jason Blackwood checks into the game and made an immediate impact -- scoring an Army try. Freshman Max Delai added his first career conversion.
- The scoring capped with RIzzo crossing the try line for the second time himself to finish the night.
SCORING TIMELINE VS. IONA
4th minute: Try -- Joe Ryan -- Army (Army leads, 5-0)15th minute: PK -- John Powers Velasquez -- Iona (Army leads, 5-3)
19th minute: PK -- John Powers Velasquez -- Iona (Iona leads, 6-5)
27th minute: Try -- Ben Vasta; Conversion (Royston) -- Army (Army leads, 12-6)
35th minute: Try -- John Rizzo -- Army (Army leads, 17-6)
40th minute: Try -- Marco Carrabotta; Conversion (Royston) -- Army (Army leads, 24-6)
48th minute: Try -- Drew Dunham -- Army (Army leads, 29-6)
53rd minute: Try -- Marco Carrabotta -- Army (Army leads, 34-6)
58th minute: Try -- Tyler Ringwood -- Iona (Army leads, 34-11)
71st minute: Try -- Drew Dunham -- Army (Army leads, 39-11)
74th minute: Try -- Jason Blackwood; Conversion (Delai) -- Army (Army leads, 46-11)
80th minute: Try -- John Rizzo -- Army (Army leads, 51-11)
UP NEXT
The Black Knights have an off week upcoming, before traveling to South Euclid, Ohio for a Rugby East showdown with Notre Dame College on Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.
Players Mentioned
