Murfreesboro, TN. – With a spot in the National Championship tournament already clinched, the Wheeling University Rugby team (19-6) continued their 7's season at the Moosemen 7's, hosted by Middle Tennessee State. For the third 7's tournament in a row, the Cardinals claimed the Division I tournament championship, before falling in the tournament championship to DII Champion East Carolina. The Cardinals have won each of their first 13 7's games against Division I opponents and look to continue honing their skills before the CRC 7's at the end of April.

Match One: Wheeling 45, Saint Louis 0

There was a change to the tournament for match one as the Cardinals would take on Saint Louis University instead of SE Louisiana. The Cardinals offense came out strong as Mohamed Haddar continued his strong 7's season, pushing across his first try and conversion kick of the day to put Wheeling ahead 7-0. Lawula Bata would take over the rest of the half, scoring the next three tries, already tying his career high for tries in a tournament this season. Haddar went 1-2 and Bata went 0-1 on the three conversion kicks and Wheeling went into halftime leading 24-0.

In the second half, the Cardinals kept their foot in the gas pedal adding three more tries over the final seven minutes. Antonio Tangre scored his first try of the 7's season, crossing the try line on the first possession of the second half. Haddar made his third conversion kicks of the match and Wheeling went up 31-0. Martin Becker followed with his first 7's try of the year and another Haddar kick got Wheeling to their season-high with 38 points. Haddar started the match the same way he ended it, with a try and conversion kicks to put Wheeling in front 45-0. The Cardinals defense was stout throughout the day and that 45-0 mark would be the final score as Wheeling moved on.

Lawula Bata led the way with three tries, followed by Mohamed Haddar's two try effort. Antonio Tangre and Martin Becker added the final two tries on the Cardinal's season-high offensive effort. Haddar led the kicking game, going 5-6 on conversion kicks. Lawula Bata took the other conversion kicks, going 0-1, as Wheeling moved on to face Virginia Tech in the DI semifinals.

Match Two: Wheeling 21, Virginia Tech 0

The second match of the day was a defensive battle in the first half. Neither team could get on the board on their first possessions and the only try would come from the Cardinals. They went to their offensive leader for the 7's season as Haddar pushed across the lone try of the half. Achraf Boutfanzout would come in for his first conversion kick of the day, giving Wheeling a 7-0 lead. That is the lead that Wheeling took into halftime as they tried to scheme up some scoring plays for the team in the second half.

The adjustments would work as on the first possession of the second half, Bata would get the Cardinals back across the try line. He pushed across his fourth try of the day and completed the conversion kick to put the Cardinals up 14-0. On the next possession, Larry Old got the ball and ran up the pitch to cross the try line and get Wheeling back on the board. Haddar kicked through the conversation kick and Wheeling was up 21-0. The Cardinals defense would hold the opposition off the board on their final possession and Wheeling held on to win the match by that same score.

Bata added his fourth try of the tournament in the game while Larry Old and Mohamed Haddar (3) each pushed across tries. Three different Cardinals converted conversion kicks on the day with Haddar improving to 6-7, Boutfanzout going 1-1, and Bata moving to 1-2. The win advanced the Cardinals to the Division I championship game, where they would face a familiar foe in Notre Dame College.

Match Three: Wheeling 14, Notre Dame College 10

In their first two 7's tournaments of the year, the Cardinals have played Notre Dame College in the championship game. For the third time this season, the two teams met in the DI Championship game with the Cardinals looking for their third straight win. On their first possession, the Falcons pushed the ball across the try line, but missed the kick as the Falcons took a 5-0 lead. Before the half was over, Wheeling got on the board when Haddar pushed across his fourth try of the day, tying Bata for the team lead, and kicked through the conversion kick as Wheeling took a 7-5 lead. 

In the second half, both defenses held strong early on as neither team scored on their first possessions. However, on their second possession of the half, Tino Ajay gets across the try line to push the Cardinal's lead to 12-5. Boutfanzout comes out for the conversion kick and pushes it through the uprights to push Wheeling's lead to 14-5. As time expired, Notre Dame College pushed across their final try of the day to make it 14-10. They would miss the ensuing conversion kick, but either way Wheeling would hold on to win 14-10. They claimed their third DI Championship of the season and moved to the tournament championship game against the DII champion East Carolina University.

Match Four: East Carolina 27, Wheeling 22

The final match of the day was the battle between the Moosemen 7's Division I championship and the Division II championship. The Cardinals would take on East Carolina University to see who the Moosemen 7's champion would be. It was an offensive battle throughout and as time expired the two teams were tied at 22-22. As they went into extra time, it was ECU who would push across the game-winning try and defeated Wheeling 27-22. It was another hard fought game for the Cardinals, but they just couldn't pull out the championship.on the end.

The Wheeling University Rugby team will return to action on Saturday, April 1st, when they head to the Cincinnati 7's.