UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – In front of a home crowd, Penn State Men’s Rugby put up a determined second-half fight but fell short against a disciplined Army side, falling 24-7 in their October 12th matchup.
The game was truly a tale of two halves. Army dominated the first 40 minutes, scoring four tries and controlling possession to build a commanding 24-0 lead by halftime. Their relentless pace and precision kept Penn State on the back foot, leaving the Nittany Lions with a significant deficit to overcome in the second half.
Penn State, however, showed renewed energy and resilience after the break, regrouping defensively and refusing to concede another point. Their defensive work rate and physicality shut down Army’s attack, allowing them to take control in the second half. Flyhalf Tristan Sommerville broke through with a powerful run on a well-timed short line to score Penn State's only try, converted by scrumhalf Lorenzo Zamel, bringing the score to 24-7.
Despite their second-half surge and commendable defensive effort, Penn State was unable to close the gap further. The second-half performance, however, highlighted the team’s potential and grit, as they effectively outscored Army after halftime.
Head coach Zac Mizell was pleased with the improvements in the second half as Penn State looks to carry that momentum into their next contest against Pennsylvania rival Kutztown.