The Rams claimed the Metro Rugby Union division title by posting a 4-2 record in
the regular season. The club team, which is coached by Fordham and rugby alum Andrew Gheraldi, have been able to build on
the success of last season, in which it won the 2009 Cherry Blossom Invitational, upsetting then-defending Division II
National Champion Radford and a nationally ranked Dartmouth squad
Despite a tough match, Fordham came away with the happy
ending, upending Army with a thrilling 25-23 victory. The Rams trailed most of the game and only had the lead for about
30 seconds - the 30 seconds that mattered most. With their hopes dwindling, and an image of Army celebrating a victory once
again, Keith Reid stepped up to a penalty in the final minute of the game. Reid drilled the points through, winning
the title and sending Fordham to the Northeast Rugby Union Tournament.
Even though the game was not a must win situation,
as Army would not have advanced to the Northeast Tournament because its A-Side team competed in the event, the win gave the
Rams a shot of momentum.
Even though it could celebrate for a few days, the team had to get right back to work. The
Rams faced a well-respected St. Bonaventure team in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Rugby Union Tournament on Saturday,
Nov. 7 in the friendly confines of Murphy Field. With home field advantage, a 5-2 record, a league title and plenty of momentum,
the Rams would seem to be the favorites. However, this was not the case. St. Bonaventure was a huge favorite, and few gave
Fordham any chance in the match.
Fordham answered the call, though, with a try early in the first half to
take a 7-0 lead. Reid again took the game on his shoulders, truck-sticking a Bonnies defender and scampering into the
end zone. Still, the Bonnies proved why they were heavy favorites, as they answered right back with a try of their own, tying
the game at seven just before halftime.
St. Bonaventure struck first in the second half, taking the lead on
another score, and soon enough the Rams found themselves where everyone else predicted they would be: down. The theme this
year for the Rams seems to be a relentless determination to prove themselves, and this held true in the second half. Reid
scored again on an excellent juke and found the end zone, tying the game at 12.
The next few minutes were dominated
by the Bonnies and twice it looked as if they had taken the lead. Yet, despite the cheers of their players and their
fans, twice they had not crossed the goal line. The Rams defense came up huge on several scrums just outside their own end
zone and kept the game tied at 12. Fordham had its own close calls, including an offsides call that negated a Fordham try.
In
the biggest games, the biggest players are supposed to step up. Reid certainly showed he could play, captain Matt Savolskisas
also played well and so did Tim Schwartz and Tomas Ferrero, whose senior leadership were present on the field throughout
the match.
At this point, it was time for senior co-captain T.J. Carroll, who went down with injuries a couple of times
during the game, to step up. As the clock counted down, and overtime seemed inevitable, Carroll took the ball from midfield
and found the try zone just before a defender took him down.
After what many are calling the biggest win in recent
history, and arguably the biggest win in the history of Fordham Rugby, the team prepares for its semifinal match against the
Army "A" side. If Fordham defeats Army, it will advance to the Sweet 16 of the national tournament, and head out
west to take on Dartmouth or Syracuse (who knocked off Fordham last season.)
The Rams lost twice to the Army "C" Side
last season and now they will be facing a team better than that. Army is a perennial powerhouse, and has been steamrolling
its opponents all year. No one gave the Rams a chance against the Bonnies, though, so they will just have to embrace
the underdog role until they gain respect from everyone in the rugby community. The easiest way to gain respect is to beat
teams you are not supposed to beat. Men's rugby will try to do just that.
