The men's rugby team started the season off on a high-note on Saturday, crushing Maine Maritime Academy 22-3.
"It's always nice to start the season with a win," Coach Rick Scala said. "We had a lot of younger players starting who played at a really high level and I hope that they can keep that up against more experienced teams."
The team had a sluggish start to the match with a low-scoring first half, leading 5-3 at the half after a Ryan Devenyi '08 try. However, the team had a huge second half with junior John Draghi, and sophomores Charlie Ash and David Leinen all scoring tries. Derek Castro '09 also had two long runs, one of which set Draghi up for his try.
This year, the team looks to avoid a repeat of last year's late-season collapse. After starting the season 3-0-0, the Black Pack finished last season with a 3-2-1 record, eventually losing to rival Colby in the first round of the New England Rugby Football Union playoffs.
"Every game we play this season counts, and in order for us to make the playoffs, we can take no one lightly," said senior captain Dan Jaffe.
The team looks to continue its success when it travels to the University of Maine-Farmington this Saturday.
The entire team needs to play well if Bowdoin hopes to return with a victory, Jaffe said.
"As you always hear, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that is the case with us," he said. "We don't have exceptional size to fall back on like all the other teams we play. We are a skill- and fitness-based team, and a failure in either of these two areas leaves us extremely vulnerable."
This year's team is somewhat inexperienced and composed of relatively untested new talent. According to Jaffe, there are currently only two or three healthy seniors.
"The team looks young," Jaffe said, "and hungry for some serious action. With some very stiff inter-squad competition over very limited playing positions, this year has the makings for an extremely exciting and interesting fall season."