Men's Rugby strikes early, holds off Babson for opening win

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College men's rugby squad held off Babson College for a 41-26 win on Sunday, September 10.

AIC is 1-0 on the campaign.

The Yellow Jackets scored the game's first three tries. The scoring opened with patient play across the field as the Yellow Jackets worked out of set pieces to move the ball from the right side to the left, with German Rossi ultimately punching in for a try in the sixth minute.

Rossi then added AIC's second score in dramatic fashion, jumping past the Beavers forwards to intercept a pass and fly nearly 60 yards to the try zone. He hit the conversion for a 12-0 lead just past the midpoint of the first half.

Lightning in the area necessitated a lengthy delay, but out of the stoppage AIC struck again, with Israel Martinez putting down and Rossi converting for a 19-0 lead. 

The intrigue picked up as Babson won back the next kickoff and forced their way into the try zone, touching off a string of scoring down to halftime; Patrick Maclin scored for AIC, and the Beavers landed another in stoppage time, sending the Yellow Jackets to the half with a 26-14 lead.

Both teams continued to have success offensively out of the break; the first points came on a penalty kick as Rossi split the uprights, only for Babson to pull within eight with a try and conversion nearly immediately after. AIC's defenses slowed Babson from there, however, and Augusto Arguello's first try of the match sealed the win with just over 16 to play; the Beavers scored once more late, but Arguello countered that too for the 41-26 final.

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Friday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m. when they host Fordham University.