Halfway through their Rugby East conference play portion of the season, the Bonnies are 1-2 in their division and 5-2 overall. Following a close loss at Navy and another loss at home to Army, the Bonnies traveled to Penn State and defeated the #1 ranked team in National Collegiate Rugby, 19-15. Going into the match the Bonnies were ranked 4th in NCR's rankings, behind Dartmouth and Kutztown, who comes to St. Bonaventure on 11/6 for the Bonnies final match of the regular season. 

The win at Penn State was a complete team effort, and it represented the first win against Penn State in program history, having played them four times previously. From Head Coach Tui Osborne through every player in the program, the team was unified and committed to being the best team it could be. This was demonstrated in the team's performance, as despite the strong wind and rain the Bonnies were able to emerge victorious.

The scoring started with a successful penalty kick by Penn State, giving them a 3-0 lead. However, the Bonnies quickly responded, with Niku Otineru picking up the ball off of a Penn State scrum and sprinting down the touch line to score a try, the conversion unsuccessful. This gave St. Bonaventure a 5-3 lead. The team added to its lead going into half with a successful penalty kick by Keelin Coyle, to put the team up 8-3. 

Coming out of halftime, Penn State scored and their conversion was unsuccessful, tying the game 8-8. Shortly after, the Bonnies scored another penalty kick via the leg of Keelin Coyle, going up 11-8. However, late in the half Penn State scored another try, with a successful conversion, to take the lead 15-11. Despite this the Bonnies did not give in, and freshman Sy Mendenhall made a huge play to steal the ball, kick it down the field, and score the try, with an unsuccessful conversion, putting the Bonnies ahead by 1, 16-15.

With 30 seconds left, Keelin Coyle bounced a penalty kick in off the cross bar, giving the Bonnies a 19-15 lead, which would end up being the final score. 

The Bonnies travel to Notre Dame College this Saturday, 10/23 for another Rugby East match. Following a bye week, they close the season out at home against Kutztown on 11/6, before taking on the NCR playoffs.

The award for Black Dog Men of the Match go to:
Forward - Captain Ricky Rose
Back - Lukas Otineru

Both men put in a great shift during the game and were crucial to the win.

Link to article: St Bonaventure Men's Rugby Beats Penn State in Historic Win - djcoilrugby