Site: Grand Rapids, Mich (DU Turf Field)
Score: No. 9 Davenport 39, No. 12 Wheeling Jesuit 10
Records: DU (4-3, WJU (4-3)
Next DU event: Saturday, Oct. 25 – at Lindenwood – 1 p.m.
 
Grand Rapids, Mich. – The ninth-ranked men's rugby team put forth their best game of the fall season as they routed the Cardinals of Wheeling Jesuit 39-10 in their final home game of the year. Gabe Sochanek led the way for the Panthers with two tries, with both of them coming in the second half. The Panthers will close out their regular season next Saturday on the road as they take on the Lindenwood Lions in Missouri.
 
Wheeling Jesuit got things going first as Alan Hansen crossed the try zone 12 minutes into the first half. The Panthers and Cardinals then exchanged penalty kicks, with Jean Pierre Eloff tacking on two of his own to cut the deficit to four. Knute O'Donnell then recorded the first Davenport try of the game with 5 minutes to go in the half, and sent the Panthers into the break with a 13-10 lead.
 
The second half saw a relentless attack from Davenport, as they tallied four tries from three different players. Along with Sochanek's two tries, Dominique Bailey and William Datullo each scored a try of their own. The Panthers shutout the Cardinals in the second half, and came out victorious with a much-needed 39-10 win.
 
Jean Pierre Eloff was 4-5 on his conversion kicks, and chipped in two more penalty kicks as well to give him 14 total points on the night.
 
Davenport will travel to St. Charles, Missouri next weekend to face conference rival Lindenwood in their regular season finale. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m, with the JV game starting at 5:30 p.m.
 
Men's Rugby Contact: Paul Anderson | 616-889-4062 | panderson30@email.davenport.edu
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