written by: Assistant Coach Matt Heavens

The Neumann University Men's Rugby Club continued preparations for their upcoming sevens season with a trip to Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, February 8.  The Knights would participate in a six-team preseason tournament featuring squads from Susquehanna, Shippensburg, and host Mount St. Mary's.

Neumann would be facing perennial league champion Susquehanna, division two Shippensburg and Potomac rugby powerhouse Mount St. Mary's, offering them the opportunity to compete against a solid tier of rugby. 
 
The Knights opened play with a 19-14 come from behind win over Susquehanna I. AJ DelleMonache took a pass deep in Neumann territory and raced 90 meters for the winning score on the final play. Neumann had a 12-0 half time lead courtesy of trys by Kevin Deal and Zach Clifton. Ian Deal would handle the conversions making two of three in the match. Susquehanna would answer scoring two trys three minutes into the second half. DelleMonache responded with the game winner, his first of six on the day to dash the Susquehanna comeback.
 
In the second match, Neumann wasted no time getting into the try zone running out to a 20-0 halftime lead over Susquehanna II. DelleMonache opened the scoring and Liam Ruddy scored his first of two trys along with a pair by Kevin Deal for the commanding first half lead. Second half trys by Ruddy and Mike Michini and a pair of Ian Deal conversions sealed the final score at 34-0.
 
Looking to go 3-0 in pool play, the Knights faced off against Shippensburg for a first-ever meeting between the two rugby clubs. Again the Knights wasted little time, getting out to a 24-5 halftime lead on their way to a 34-5 drubbing of the Ship squad. First half trys by DelleMonache, Clifton, Ruddy, and Ian Deal were followed up in the second stanza by trys from DelleMonache and Kevin Deal. Ian Deal and DelleMonache each added a conversion. 

The Knights would finish the day dropping a 26-21 match against the host Squad Mount St. Marys. Neumann took a 14-12 lead into half courtesy of trys by Clifton and Connor Gilden and Ian Deal conversions. A quick pair of trys by the Mount sealed the Knights fate. AJ DelleMonache would score a try and conversion on the final play for Neumann.