Geneva College Men's Rugby (#2) faced off against Robert Morris University (#6) at the Pullman Recreation Complex in the semi-final match on November…
Geneva College Men's Rugby (#2) faced off against Robert Morris University (#6) at the Pullman Recreation Complex in the semi-final match on November 2, 2024.
Geneva College faced a challenging day on the pitch as they fell to Robert Morris University (RMU), 49-17, in a hard-fought match. From the outset, the odds were stacked against Geneva after an early red card left them down a player for nearly 65 minutes, forcing the Golden Tornadoes to fight with just 14 players against a full-strength RMU squad. Despite this setback, Geneva displayed tremendous heart and resilience throughout the game. RMU capitalized on their advantage quickly, leading 21-5 at halftime. However, Geneva was determined not to go down without a fight. A series of injuries and the absence of several starters only increased the pressure, requiring Geneva’s bench to step up and fill key roles. Even with two additional yellow cards, which temporarily left the team shorthanded, Geneva continued to battle. In the second half, RMU widened the gap, but Geneva showed their trademark grit, rallying to finish the match with the final two tries. Though the scoreboard read 49-17 in RMU’s favor at the end, Geneva's relentless spirit and refusal to give up were clear. Players filled new roles on short notice and played through exhaustion, keeping their heads high despite the challenges. It was a tough loss, but Geneva College proved they are a team with character, one that plays with heart from the opening kickoff until the final whistle.
Try Scorers:
Ethan Ledbetter (Sophomore Flyhalf) - 1 Try: Ethan scored off of a solid offensive sequence and a well timed offload from Zion. Ethan played a crucial role as the stand in flyhalf in kicking for the match for the first time in his career.
Carter Milroy (Senior Outside Center) – 1 Try: Carter ran around the defense for a try.
Todd Bupp (Freshman Fullback) – 1 Try: Todd scored off of a team line breaking run.
Conversions:
Ethan Ledbetter (Sophomore Flyhalf) – 1/3
Man of the Match: Zion Haley has been named as Man of the Match! Zion was instrumental at fullback by collecting all of RMU's deep kicks. Showing composure and tenacity on both sides of the field, Zion's offload assist led to Geneva's first point of the match. Additionally, he has proven to be a key part of Geneva's offense all season long.
With this loss, the Geneva's season has come to a close. Finishing in the top four of the ARU Challenge Cup, Geneva's season was a significant improvement from the 2023 Fall season. Despite the team being young, they show tremendous promise; and with only one graduating senior, big things are in store for Geneva Rugby!
Looking ahead: Geneva Rugby will be gearing up for another successful 7s season in the Spring (2025)!
Match Video: