After being knocked out of the D1A playoffs in the semifinals by Army last spring, men's rugby was able to earn a 36-7 victory in a rematch of the two squads Friday night at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri. Eduan van Heerden scored two tries, and the Lions defense held the Black Knights to just one score.  
 
How it Happened: 
In a reminder of the two previous games, this one again began with a field position battle, defense, and large collisions on full display from the opening kickoff.  
 
Lindenwood kept the pressure in Army territory early in the first half and the Lions were finally rewarded for their efforts with a scrum, eight meters out from the endzone. After Rhys Smith crashed in with a hard inside line, van Heerden picked off the back of the ensuing ruck to score the first try 13 minutes into the match for a 5-0 Lindenwood lead. 
 
Six minutes later, the Lions struck again when scrumhalf Matteo Peignon picked a ball off the back of a scrum and darted to the side. He immediately pulled the Black Knights defender with him and created enough space for Duncan Krige to blast through the gap and receive an offload. Krige raced 30 meters for the try and with the Peignon conversion, Lindenwood increased its advantage to 12-0. 
 
Late in the first half, the Lions were awarded a penalty when an Army defender tackled a Lion support player without the ball 30 meters out. Peignon slotted the penalty attempt to make it 15-0.
 
After halftime, Lindenwood continued to control the match and only needed five minutes to score again. A high ball taken by Ike Wrigley ended up being passed to Runako Brynard who carried to the five-meter line. After a moment of scrambling at the goal line, van Heerden ended up with the ball and bullied his way over the try line for his second score of the night. The Peignon conversion made it 22-0 Lindenwood.  
 
Army was finally able to break the Lions defense when a penalty at the goal line gave the Black Knights a great scoring opportunity at the 50-minute mark. A tap and carry positioned them with a great scoring opportunity, and after several phases, they crossed the try line to get on the board and cut their deficit to 22-7 with the conversion. 
 
With Army still in reach of clawing back in the game, the Lions stopped any hope of a comeback in the 69^th minute when they executed a five-meter lineout to perfection with Kayleb O'Donoghue taking at the tail end of a maul over line. With another Peignon conversion, Lindenwood led 29-7. 
 
At the 79^th minute, Cian Darling delivered the final blow when we arrived at a ruck and saw the Black Knights defense slow to set up along the fringes. He immediately noticed a gap and picked the ball up and sprinted 35 meters for the breakaway try. The conversion was successful making the final score 36-7 in favor of the Lions.  

Player Thoughts:  
Captain Neal Moylett: "I felt like the guys rose to the occasion well. We didn't get overwhelmed by the hype around the game, stuck to our plan, and believed in each other from the opening minute." 

Rhys Smith: "This whole week we were focused on ourselves. We know that Army loves to play a physical style of rugby, and we knew that we had to bring it to them from the opening kickoff. We played with passion in our hearts, and our defense put out a statement that proved to ourselves that we can do it."
 
Coach Thoughts: 
Head Coach Josh Macy: "It was a great team effort from staff to players and fans getting a great match together against a great opponent. It was especially great to see graduating seniors from last year, who experienced a couple of bitter losses at the hands of Army, back and supporting their teammates. The support and commitment just doesn't end." 
 
What's Next: 
The Lions open Mid-South Conference play with a trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan to face No. 4 Davenport University November 19. The opening kickoff is set for 12 p.m. with the 2^nd XV squads following at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
 
Starting Lineup: 

1. Connor Devos – 63' Johannes Greyling 
2. Runako Brynard  
3. Hailama Anakalea – 67' Luke Schaefer  
4. Eduan Van Heerden - 51' Le'Donn Mathis 
5. Alejandro Martinez Tapia – 67' Calvin Ihrig 
6. Duncan Krige – 48' Kayleb O'Donoghue 
7. Cian Darling – 
8. Neal Moylett -  
9. Matteo Peignon – 72' Delfino Salinas 
10. William Groves 
11. Tyren Al-Jiboori  
12. Rhys Smith 
13. Stephin Alberts – 22' Preston Hammershmidt 
14. Nick Hardrict, II – 67' John Rink 
15. Ike Wrigley  

 
Scoring Summary: 
13' Lindenwood Try Eduan van Heerden 5-0 
19' Lindenwood Try Duncan Krige 10-0 
19'' Lindenwood Conversion Matteo Peignon 12-0 
33' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Matteo Peignon 15-0 
44' Lindenwood Eduan van Heerden 20-0 
44' Lindenwood Conversion Matteo Peignon 22-0 
50' Army Try 22-5 
51' Army Conversion 22-7 
69' Marian Try 43-5 
69' Lindenwood Try Kayleb O'Donoghue 27-7 
69' Lindenwood Conversion Matteo Peignon 59-7 
79' Lindenwood Try Cian Darlin 
79' Lindenwood Conversion Matteo Peignon