Wheeling, W. Va. - The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team (3-1-1, 1-1-1) took the national stage on Friday night as part of National Collegiate Rugby's (NCR) Friday Night Lights series. The Cardinals battled Queens University of Charlotte at Bishop Schmitt Field, The matchup was as advertised, with the two teams battling to extra time, but in the end the two teams would end in a 36-36 tie. It was the first ever Atlantic Rugby Conference (ARC) tie as the Cardinals moved to 1-1-1 in conference play to kick-off October.
In the early going, the Cardinals had a slow go of getting the offense going, and by halftime, Wheeling trailed 17-6. As they came out for the second half, it was a penalty kick by Taku Musingwini that got the Cardinals offense going and once tthey were on the board they wouldn't look back. The score would sit at 17-9 and after receiving the ensuing kick-off, they drove down the field in three minutes before making their break. They would get the ball into the hands of Alex Nyamunda, who took it the rest of the way for the Cardinal's first try of the day. Musingwini would follow with the conversion kick and Wheeling instantly cut Queens' lead to 17-16 with a full half of action ahead of them. However, the Royal's offense was persistent, and in the 53rd minute, Jack Rice would get across the try line and the conversion that followed made it a 24-16 game.
The Cardinals would have to battle back once again and once again they turned the ball over to their leader Nyamunda. After the Cardinal defense forced a turnover, Nyamunda would pick up the ball and sprint towards the try zone. He touched the ball down and Musingwini kicked the conversion through the uprights as the Cardinals were once again within one point at 24-23. Three minutes later, the Cardinals would take their first lead of the day as a Queens penalty set up a Penalty Kick opportunity for Musingwini. He tailed it through the uprights, making his third kick of the day and the Cardinals held a 26-24 lead with 22 minutes to play. The Cardinals extended that lead in the 64th minute as Shadreck Mandaza got in the try zone for just the second time this season and the conversion made it a 33-24 Cardinal lead.
Back-to-back Queens tries would flip the score and they hit a pair of conversion kicks as they took a 36-33 lead in the 74th minute. As time in regulation was expiring, Musingwini would line up for his fourth penalty kick of the day, but it would sail wide right and the Cardinals trailed 36-33. The game would end up heading into extra time and in the 88th minute, Musingwini would have his chance at redemption. A Queens penalty would have him line up for the kick and this time he was able to send it through the uprights and tied the game at 36-36. That would be the final score of the day and the two teams would end in a 36-36 tie. For the Cardinals, it was their first tie in 15's season since October 16th, 2021, when they finished in a 29-29 tie with Davenport.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was the foot of Taku Musingwini, who finished with 21 points on the day, all in the kicking game. He finished 5-6 on conversion kicks on the afternoon while adding a perfect 2-2 on conversion kicks to wrap up his day. Alex Nyamunda would finish behind him, scoring two of the team's three tries on the evening and accounting for 10 points in the effort. The final Cardinal try came courtesy of Shadreck Mandaza, who scored a key try in the second half to extend the Cardinal lead to nine. Despite finishing in a tie, it was the first time that the Cardinals hadn't fallen to the Royals in 15's play as they avenged their effort from last year's NCR semifinals.
In the game's first half, it was Queens who was on the board early, scoring just three minutes into the contest. Joshua Schwartz would get across the try line and a conversion kick from Emile Van Dyk would give Queens the 7-0 advantage. Musingwini got the Cardinals on the board with the first of four conversion kicks on the day, but Queens would add their second try of the day as they extended their lead to 12-3. The Cardinals would manage just one more conversion kick before the half ws out, but a Queens try would make it a 17-6 game heading into halftime. It would be a battle back and forth through the second half as the game ended in the tie.
The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team returns to action on Saturday, October 18th, when they host Adrian College with kick-off at 11 AM.
