WHEELING, W.Va.(Oct. 31) - The Wheeling University Men's Rugby (2-5, 0-5) team hosted the University of Rio Grande Red Storm(2-7, 1-2) in a non-conference matchup to close out the 2026 Fall 15's regular season.
Wheeling traveled down to Charlotte, NC to face the Queens University of Charlotte last Friday. The Cardinals however did take the loss in the matchup.
Wheeling versus Rio Grande had brought in a nine-match winning streak into today's contest.
After both teams were trying to figure out their opponents in the first 14 minutes, the Redstorm struck first with a Penalty Kick by Thibault Chaniwa to go up 3-0.
The Cardinals would later answer with 19 straight points in the following 15 minutes. First, Wheeling got a successful try by sophomore Jeremaya DeVad and a successful conversion kick by senior Taku Musingwini to go up 7-3.
Not long after, junior Panashe Mugorogodi earned himself a successful try with Musingwini's second conversion kick adding seven more points on the board to increase the lead, 14-3.
Later, freshman Amari Barron got himself his first try of his Cardinals career extending the lead 19-3.
Rio Grande did get a successful try and conversion by Felix Bourde and Thibault Chaniwa to cut Wheeling's lead to 19-10 before the halftime break.
Junior Mychal Andrews got the second half started for the Cardinals with the fourth try as team of the afternoon along with Musingwini earning another conversion kick to make it 26-10.
The Redstorm answered right back with the second penalty kick of the day by Thibault Chaniwa cutting the deficit 26-13.
Not long after that Wheeling would put the cap in the match with Amari Barron's second try of the day and the fourth conversion kick by Taku Musingwini to go up 33-13.
Rio Grande would get one more successful try and conversion kick at the last second by Iair Stieimburg and Thibault Chaniwa to end the contest, 33-20.
The Cardinals finish the regular season with a 2-5 overall record and 0-5 record in conference play. Next week will begin the Atlantic Rugby Conference playoffs with Wheeling in the mix.
