Photos courtesy Buffalo State Rugby Pictures / see more
It was the game for which the DII Upstate New York college conference was waiting. Two 5-0 teams – one a traditional power, the other a returner from NSCRO – met in Buffalo and anticipated the best game of their seasons thus far. They weren’t disappointed, and in the end, SUNY Cortland defeated Buffalo State 22-17 to remain undefeated. Fortunately for the rugby-viewing public, this match-up will be replicated in the conference final.
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Former NSCRO team Cortland had posted bonus-point wins in four-straight matches and then had a bye before facing Buffalo State, which had similar stats. From that bye week on, Cortland coach Matthew Madden noted an emotional shift at training sessions, and last Thursday, that tension became tangible.
“This season, we’ve had 30-plus at training, so we’re getting to a place where we can scrimmage ourselves, which is really nice,” Madden said. “We were running at each other and you could feel the anxiety building. Leaders, who are taking things more seriously than maybe the first-semesters who are still learning the game, were getting annoyed with teammates for not doing things right. … I just had to pull them aside and remind them that yelling isn’t leading.”
Madden attempted to keep the squad calm and positive as it drove the three hours to Buffalo State, and he was pleasantly surprised that, once the whistle blew, the team played loose and fast. The teams scored two tries apiece in the first half, with Cortland’s tries coming from lock Teresa Ricci and scrumhalf Julianna Matos. Flyhalf Michele Lammers kicked both conversions for the 14-12 lead into the break.
Lammers, who’s typically at fullback but played brilliantly at 10, opened the second half with a penalty kick (17-12). In the fourth quarter, Buffalo State scored its third try to tie it up, 17-all.
“They had a few really nifty players who made a big impact with ball in hand or around the ruck,” Madden said. “In that sense, they were really good and kept coming offensively. I think where we beat them was offloading a little more in the tackle and getting the ball in more people’s hands.
“Defensively, we matched up well, unless [Buffalo State] did a good job of feeding those dynamic players,” the coach continued. “They had a couple of really great tries where the ball carrier just out-athleticized everyone on the field. But if we didn’t break, and they ran away from their support, we were able to put two into the tackle, and 10-12 times we took the ball.”
Cortland isn’t without its standouts. In addition to backs captains Matos driving a fast-paced game, Tori Duger takes charge in the forwards. The duo also serves as president and vice president, respectively. Freshman Penny Lenard, an Orchard Park alumna, slid back to fullback and had a knockout game. Madden envisions the youngster as a future flyhalf the way she reads the game, moves around the pitch and tackles like crazy.
In the final 10 minutes, Cortland prop Oshen Beayon scored the go-ahead try, 22-17, which held through regulation.
“It was one of those games where the team reacted like it was a championship, but I met them in the center of the field as quickly as possible,” Madden said of the game-ending whistle. “Buffalo State was obviously down and you don’t want to celebrate on their field. … We knew we were going to see them in two weeks, and they’re good enough to make adjustments. So, yes, they were excited, but I had to remind them that it could sting in two weeks, so let’s just act like we’ve done it before.”
But it was an important win for Cortland, which had finished on the wrong side of games like these in the recent past. There is one more week of league play, but due to standings points, Cortland and Buffalo State are guaranteed berths to the conference final in Rochester on Nov. 4.
“The game was so close that there’s no way that they’re not fearful to do it again,” Madden said of the team’s motivation to keep working. “It was a fast and furious game. It was really physical and it will take everything we have to beat them again.”
With that said, Buffalo State and Cortland are also granted berths to the USA Rugby DII Fall Round of 32 on Nov. 11-12. But even with that guarantee of an extended post-season, winning the conference title is still very important.
“The way we understand it, the winner [of the conference final] will host their Round of 32 match. That’s huge in terms of club funding,” Madden said. “It’s always in the back of your mind: How much will it cost and how much time will it require?”
USA Rugby has not yet released a finalized version of the Fall Round of 32 bracket. Stay tuned for the Nov. 4 rematch, when we’ll check in with fellow playoffs-bound Buffalo State.
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