Belmont, NC. - The Allegheny Rugby Conference (ARC) schedule came down to its final day on Friday night, with all six teams fighting to determine their postseason fate. The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team (3-3-1, 1-3-1) would hit the road for a Halloween night match-up with Belmont Abbey, with the #3 seed in the conference standings on the line. The Cardinals would get on the board first, but the Knight's offense came fast and often the rest of the day as Wheeling would fall 45-3 to move to 1-3-1 in conference play and will now await their playoff fate.
The Cardinals were looking to get out to a fast start, and in the 10th minute they would get on the board first. The Cardinals took advantage of a Belmont Abbey Penalty, and Taku Musingwini would tee the ball up. He sailed the ball through the uprights, and the Cardinals would have an early 3-0 lead with Musingwini continuing his success in the kicking game. It was the second straight game where the Cardinals got out in front, and the defense continued to hold strong for the Cardinals. It wasn't until the 15th minute that Belmon Abbey would gt on the board, as Jean Teson took the ball across the try line, and a missed conversion would have the score sitting at 5-3 in favor of the Knights.
It was a strong defensive effort on both sides, with the two teams combining for just 15 points over the first 40 minutes of play. Wheeling remained just two points behind the Knights until the final minutes of the first half. Belmont Abbey would get the ball into the hands of Harrison Tu'isila and he took it the rest of the way. Then, he teed up the ball and sent the penalty kick through the uprights, and Belmont Abbey was out to a 12-3 advantage. That would be the score as the teams went into the halftime break, and the Cardinals would look to find some dents in the Knight's armor during the second half. Wheeling had scored 28 points combined in the first half over their last two games, and remained within striking distance heading to the second half.
However, Belmont Abbey would control the time of possession and, despite several drives into enemy territory, the Cardinals were unable to find the board. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey was clicking on all cylinders, scoring five tries over that final 40 minute stretch. They would be scored by four different players, with Ka'Ron Young, Marcos Angjelinic, and Oli Fussell each scoring once while Young added two tries. They would make all five conversion kicks, and when the final whistle blew, the Cardinals would fall 45-3. Over their last three halves of play, the Cardinals were held to just six points and they look to find their groove as they hit the playoff stretch run.
The only three points of the day would come from Taku Musingwini, who made the only penalty kick that he attempted on the day. Musingwini has now made each of his past four penalty kick opportunities, and upped his season mark to 12-14 (85.7%). He is the Cardinal's leading scorer with 62 points this season and will look to be a driving force for the team as they begin the playoff push.
The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team will now prepare for the 2025 ARC Championships, scheduled for Friday, November 7th, and Saturday, November 8th. Stay tuned as the Cardinals await their fate and their upcoming postseason schedule.
