Geneva College Men's Rugby traveled to the University of Pitt-Johnstown on October 24, 2025. The Geneva College Men’s Rugby team closed out their sea…
Geneva College Men's Rugby traveled to the University of Pitt-Johnstown on October 24, 2025.
The Geneva College Men’s Rugby team closed out their season with a heartbreaking overtime loss to top-seeded Pitt-Johnstown in the first round of the playoffs. Despite entering as the eighth seed, Geneva put on a defensive clinic that pushed UPJ to the brink in a tightly contested matchup.
From the opening whistle, Geneva found themselves defending deep in their own territory, spending nearly 90% of the first half on the back foot. Yet, against the run of play, they capitalized on a rare offensive opportunity to strike first and take a 7-0 lead. The defensive wall held strong throughout the half, turning away repeated UPJ attacks with relentless tackles and disciplined structure.
In the second half, Geneva once again stunned UPJ by scoring first, reigniting the team’s energy and determination. Still, much of the half was played inside Geneva’s own 22, as the team endured wave after wave of UPJ pressure. The defensive stand was nothing short of inspiring, but UPJ managed to break through twice to even the score.
At full time, the scoreboard read 14-14 with two converted tries apiece. Because playoff matches cannot end in a draw, the game continued into two five-minute overtime halves. UPJ struck first in the opening overtime period, and though Geneva fought valiantly until the final whistle, they were unable to find the equalizer.
The match ended with UPJ advancing, but Geneva walking off the field with pride. Their performance was a testament to grit, heart, and teamwork, as a masterclass in defense and resilience under pressure. Though the season came to an end, Geneva proved they could stand toe-to-toe with the best team in the conference and left no doubt about their growth and potential heading into next year.
Man of the Match: Westin Harper, Junior Flanker, earned the honors for the day through his tireless commitment to the defensive side of the match. His effort was felt across the defensive line as he fought to bring down players much larger in size for 90 minutes! Leading on the field with grit and tenacity, Westin has battled hard all season long.
Try Scorers:
Nate McFarland (Freshman Wing) – 1 Try
Frank Williams (Senior Inside Center) – 1 Try
Conversions:
Michael Mann (Senior Fly-Half) – 2/2
Looking Ahead: Geneva College's Fall season has concluded, and the team is looking forward to another successful 7s season in the Spring!
Match Video: https://youtu.be/I1TwarNDMuI?si=AKJa0Bii0xIEGntA