Rugby 10/22/2017 7:13:00 PM Chris Myers

Holden Boots Cardinals Rugby Past Falcons on Final Play

WHEELING, W.Va. – After having its second-half cushion vanish, Alex Holden booted Wheeling Jesuit rugby back into the lead on the final play and past Notre Dame College, 39-37, in a thrilling end Sunday afternoon.

After leading by as many 21 second-half points and 16 points late, the Cardinals (2-3) saw the Falcons rattle off four tries and a penalty kick to fly into the lead, 37-36.

WJU rushed out to a 14-0 advantage with the opening two tries from Holden and Killian Gause. Inosi Kau and Joji Vakasisikakala added tries for a 26-10 halftime lead.

Along with the winning penalty kick, Holden found the try zone two times to lead the scoring with 13 points. Kau scored twice as the other multiple try Cardinals player.

WJU heads on the road for its final two fall matches beginning with a 1 p.m. Saturday match, Oct. 28, at Kutztown University.

More match highlights:

The Cardinals started off strong in the first half with aggressive defense and fast-ball out of the rucks. The first try was scored five minutes into the game by inside center Holden, followed by Gause with a try. With both conversions successfully kicked by George Roscoe, Wheeling Jesuit was up14-0. A penalty committed by WJU presented an opportunity for Notre Dame College to get on the scoreboard with a penalty kick around the 40-yard line bringing the score to 14-3.

The last 15 minutes of the second half showed a lot of back-and-forth tries. First 8-man Kau broke through a few tackles and crashed over the try line along with a successful conversion by Roscoe. NDC answered back five minutes later with a successfully converted try, bringing the score a Cardinals 21-10 lead. With five minutes left, WJU closed out the first half with a team try through Vakasisikakala. The conversion was not successful leaving the score 26-10 at halftime.

The second half was full of excitement as Notre Dame College found its groove and caught the Cardinals. Just like the first half, Holden started the half with a try, but the conversion was not successful. The Falcons answered back with a try followed by another kick for points to bring the score to a 31-20 home lead.

The Cardinals extended their lead with another try by Inosi Kau. This would be their last try of the game as NDC scored three-straight tries, while it only converted one of three conversions. The Falcons took the lead at 37-36 with four minutes left to play.

WJU fought to the last second with hard hits through the forwards until NDC committed a penalty. Being within the kicking range of Holden, he booted the ball through the sticks for the Cardinal win and a 39-37 final score.

Scoring Summary:
1^ST Half
WJU – Alex Holden try (Roscoe conversion good), (WJU 7, NDC 0)
WJU – Killian Gause try (Roscoe conversion good), (WJU 14, NDC 0)
NDC – Penalty kick, successful conversion (WJU 14, NDC 3)
WJU – Inosi Kau try (Roscoe conversion unsuccessful), (WJU 21, NDC 3)
NDC – Try, conversion successful (WJU 14, NDC 10)
WJU – Joji Vakasisikakala try (Roscoe conversion unsuccessful), (WJU 26, NDC 10)

2^ND Half
WJU - Alex Holden try (Roscoe conversion unsuccessful), (WJU 31, NDC 10)
NDC – Try, conversion successful (WJU 31, NDC 17)
NDC – Penalty kick, successful conversion (WJU 31, NDC 20)
WJU – Inosi Kau try (Roscoe conversion unsuccessful), (WJU 36, NDC 20)
NDC – Try, conversion unsuccessful (WJU 36, NDC 25)
NDC – Try, conversion successful (WJU 36, NDC 32)
NDC – Try, conversion unsuccessful (WJU 36, NDC 37)
WJU – Alex Holden penalty kick successful, (WJU 39, NDC 37)

-GoCards-

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Players Mentioned

Killian Gause: W; 6' 2"; Senior

Inosi Kau: C; Senior

George Roscoe: FB/W; Sophomore

Joji Vakasisikakala: FH/C; 6' 1"; Senior

Alex Holden: C; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Killian Gause
: 6' 2"; Senior
: W

Inosi Kau
: Senior
: C

George Roscoe
: Sophomore
: FB/W

Joji Vakasisikakala
: 6' 1"; Senior
: FH/C

Alex Holden
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: C