NORTH CANTON, OH – Penn State Men’s Rugby suffered a 41-19 defeat to Walsh University on November 2nd in a match where the Nittany Lions struggled to control the game and were penalized too often against a motivated Walsh side celebrating Senior Day.
Walsh took full advantage of Penn State’s discipline issues, capitalizing on several penalties throughout the match. The home team, energized by the occasion, played with intensity and precision, consistently gaining territory through set-piece dominance and exploiting the opportunities from Penn State’s mistakes. The Nittany Lions gave away numerous penalties in both attack and defense, allowing Walsh to maintain possession and control for much of the game.
Despite the deficit, Penn State showed moments of individual brilliance, but they were unable to put together a sustained period of pressure or capitalize on their own attacking opportunities. Walsh's defense proved resolute, while their offensive cohesion kept the scoreboard ticking in their favor.
Penn State did score a few tries, but they were unable to string together the phases needed to mount a significant challenge. With the penalty count continuing to rise, Penn State struggled to gain any foothold in the game, ultimately allowing Walsh to secure a comfortable win.
The loss was a frustrating one for Penn State, as they will look to address the penalties and improve their control in future games. Head coach Zac Mizell will certainly focus on discipline and maintaining composure as the team prepares for their next fixture, a friendly against Davenport University.