Rugby falls in heartbreaker

Author: Eri Nosaka

It was a heartbreaking moment when the referee blew his whistle ending the semifinals game of the Northeast Territorial. With a score of 20-15, Middlebury College endured its first loss this year which ended the season earlier than expected. Despite warm weather and a devoted group of fans, Middlebury tirelessly fought against the University of Rhode Island from the start to the end of the game.

Last year the team managed to make it into the finals of this tournament only to lose against Yale University. This year, however, due to an abundant amount of skill, the team had high hopes of winning a title that they last won three years ago.

This year, after easily conquering Vassar College in the quarterfinals, Middlebury found itself playing against a team that they rarely encounter. URI, a team that in the finals lost against Coast Guard by a score of 26-22, ended the season with a record of 9-2. Middlebury ,however, ended the regular season 5-0 and consequently won the New England Championship.

Middlebury rarely finds itself struggling against a team, and therefore seemed slightly taken aback when University of Rhode Island managed to score early in the game. The first half was characterized by URI's powerful back line, but overall their team managed to run an extremely smooth and fast game. However, with an incredible try scored by Spencer Cox '08, Middlebury was clearly still in the running.

By the second half, the Middlebury squad seemed to regain its confidence and attempted to close the gap with URI. Despite the valiant effort, and a second try scored by John Sharpe '06, Middlebury still fell short of a victory.

"I blame our loss partly on the fact that we don't play enough decent teams during the regular season, so when it comes time to play a team with other talented athletes, we don't know how to respond. I am personally not ashamed one bit of the loss. I love the team," said Luke Hammock '06.

If talent and heart were the only determinants, there is no doubt that Middlebury should have won the championship. Although they are a club team, the members of this team have a dedication to this sport that matches that of any collegiate team in the nation.

"While the loss was disappointing, Middlebury played very good rugby, especially in the second half. This team was the most talented I have ever had the privilege of playing on, and though it is disappointing to lose that final match, only one team gets to win their last game. We have pride in our New England Championship title, in the club itself, and in the future of Middlebury Rugby," said Colby Hewitt '06.