Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
St. Bonaventure University
Men’s Rugby Set to Face St. Bonaventure
October 17, 2024 | Men's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point men's rugby team (4-1) returns to the pitch on Friday night as they host Rugby East rival St. Bonaventure University (2-1) at home.
The Black Knights come into the matchup with an impressive 4-1 record, having secured victories over Indiana, Rugby East opponents Mary Washington, Southern Virginia, and Penn State.
St. Bonaventure enters the game with a 2-1 record, facing familiar foes in Penn State and Navy. Like Army, the Bonnies suffered a defeat to the Midshipmen but managed a win against the Nittany Lions.
The history between Army and St. Bonaventure is well-established, with the two programs having faced off nine times since Army's rugby program achieved varsity status. The Black Knights hold an 8-1 lead in the series; however, the Bonnies are riding high after earning their first-ever varsity win over Army last season.
This year, the Black Knights are determined to reclaim their dominance in the rivalry and are focused on the challenge ahead.
Junior Jacob Bottarini shared his thoughts on the team's mindset: "We had a solid performance against Penn State, but we felt a bit unsatisfied with our lack of consistency throughout the game. We're aiming to build on that and deliver our best performance tomorrow. It's great to finally be back home after a month of away games, and the team is really excited to play a Friday night game under the lights."
In their last outing against Penn State, sophomore Howie Heller delivered a standout performance that earned him College Rugby Association of America honors. Heller led the charge with two tries in Army's 24-7 victory.
Heller currently leads the Black Knights in scoring this season with 38 points, placing him third in the Rugby East for points scored.
Fans can catch the action Friday, October 18th following this link. Kick-off is set for 7:00 PM.
Players Mentioned
