Kutztown, PA. – On Saturday, the Wheeling University Men's Rugby team (3-0, 1-0) began a new era of conference play when they took part in their first ever Atlantic Rugby Conference (ARC) Matchup. Wheeling would go on the road to face Kutztown University for their first ever ARC match and came out victorious 36-17. There was also history made on the field, as senior Alex Nyamunda set the new program record for career tries during 15s season.
Nyamunda Entered the match having tied the record last time out against Rio Grande. He sat at 21 career tries during 15s season, tied with former Cardinal Pete Malcolm, and following the halftime break he would put himself all alone in the record books. It came on the team's third score of the day as Nyamunda powered his way down the middle of the pitch and touched the ball down to give the Cardinals a 24-7 lead. With the score he broke a record that had stood for the last eight seasons as he scored his seventh try of 2025. As the half went on, Nyamunda would pad his lead scoring his second try of the day and pushing the Cardinal score to 31-7. It marks the third straight match that he has scored at least two tries in and brings his season total to eight tries in three matches. His next milestone is the 15s single season try record, which he fell. Just one try short of last season when he scored 11 tries. With six more regular season matches ahead, he is on Pace to meet that record before the team heads on a National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) playoff run.
After having a big match on the pitch a week ago, Panashe Mugorogodi continued his tear on the field as he got the Cardinal offense going. He would score the first try of the day 10 minutes into the match to give Wheeling a 5-0 lead. Taku Musingwini would follow him up with the conversion kick and the Cardinals were out to a 7-0 lead early. The team of Mugorogodi and Musingwini would get the offense going against Rio Grande, and they would do it once again in conference play. Ten minutes later, Mugorogodi was at it again. Taking the ball up the sidelines, across the try line, and to the middle of the goal for the second Cardinal score of the day. As he did the first time, Musingwini followed with the conversion and the Cardinals had a 14-0 lead. The final Cardinal score of the half would come following a penalty by The Golden Bears. Musingwini lined up the penalty kick and split the uprights as Wheeling went ahead 17-0. Kutztown would get on the board for their first try before the half and sailed through the conversion kick bringing the halftime score to 17-7.
As the Cardinals came out for the second half, Nyamunda would make history with the first two scores and Musingwini would add two more conversion kicks bringing his point total to nine on the night. While the Golden Bears were down, they certainly weren't out as they made a push midway through the second half. Kutztown would add a try, conversion kick, and a penalty kick cutting the Wheeling lead to 31-17. Wheeling needed one more score to close things out and they would get it in the 70th minute. They would turn to Shadreck Mandaza, who twisted his way through the Kutztown defense before turning on the afterburners for his first try of the day. It was the loan conversion kick that Musingwini missed on the day but it was enough for Wheeling to claim the victory. As the 80 minute whistle sounded, Wheeling picked up the 36-17 win, marking their first ARC when in program history.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Nyamunda and Mugorogodi, who each put up 10 points in the effort. Nyamunda set the program record for career tries, while Mugorogodi brought his total for the season to six. Taku Musingwini finished with 11 points on the night, going 4-5 on conversions and 1-2 on Penalty Kicks as the team's primary kicker. Rounding out the scoring was Shadreck Mandaza, who scored five points with his second try of the season.
The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team returns to action on Saturday, September 20th, when they host Walsh with kick-off at 1 PM.
