Game Summary

WHEELING, W. Va. – The Davenport men's rugby team closed out their fall season at Wheeling Jesuit in West Virginia. Head coach, Kruger VanBiljon looked to finish the regular season on a high note before the team heads into winter training. The Panthers beat the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals 22-7, as Michael Houston scored two tries for the team. Gabe Sochanek also chipped in with a try, and Jean Pierre Eloff made his return to the lineup with penalty conversion. The Panthers will head into winter training as they will prep for the spring season in Mid-South Conference.
 
Davenport looked to come out strong and wanted to take an early lead, but they were unable to do so as Wheeling Jesuit scored the first try of the match and took a 7-0 lead after a successful conversion. However the Panthers came right back as Michael Houston scored his first try and Brady Gent converted the try to tie the game at seven points apiece.   
 
As the first half was winding down Gabe Sochanek scored a try to give the Panthers the lead. Gent made his second conversion of the game to give DU a 14-7 lead at halftime.
 
Davenport picked up right where they left off, and Jean Pierre Eloff, who returned to the lineup for DU after playing in China with the Tigers rugby squad, converted on a penalty kick to increase the Panther lead to ten points. Houston closed out the scoring in the match as he posted his second try of the match, Eloff did not make the conversion attempt, and Davenport came away with a 22-7 win.
 
Davenport finished off their fall season competing against the Rugby East Conference teams and went 1-2 against those teams as they lost to Penn State and Kutztown. The Panthers were unable to qualify for the Rugby East Championship.
 
DU will head into winter training to prep for the spring season and Mid-South Conference play, where they will face last years national champion, Life; Arkansas State; and D1A Rugby newcomer, Lindenwood. The Panthers will face each team twice, and will have a non-conference game against Clemson.
 
Men's Rugby Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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