HOUSTON – California rugby was defeated 28-22 by Navy in the title match of the D1A National Collegiate Championships on Saturday evening at Aveva Stadium.
 
"Congratulations to Navy on a well-earned championship," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "They were the wire-to-wire top team in the nation. I appreciate our boys as well. It's not easy getting to this last game, and we certainly had our chances."  
 
The Golden Bears came out strong and took an advantage over the Midshipmen nine minutes in when sophomore Kealan O'Connell found a gap on the left side to step into the tryzone. Senior co-captain Max Schumacher added the extras to make it 7-0 and give Cal a lead it would hold onto for the next 58 minutes.
 
The Bears stayed on the attack and scored another try just four minutes later to extend the advantage. The Cal forwards went to work on the goal-line and junior Emilio Shea carried the score across off of a pick-and-go.
 
Cal continued to control the possession and threaten Navy territory and was awarded a penalty at minute 13. Schumacher sent the ball through the uprights to give the Bears another three points.
 
Six minutes later, Navy kicked a ball into touch and won the attacking lineout to send a ball in at the back of a maul. The Mids failed to convert the try. At minute 35, Navy was awarded a penalty and attempted to take points off a kick, but the kick went wide and the Mids were denied three more.
 
As the first half was expiring, Navy worked back into Bear territory and the scrumhalf snuck in for their second try of the day. The Mids converted to make it 15-14 in favor of the Bears at the intermission.
 
Second-half action began the same as the first with Cal being the first to add a try to the scoresheet. Sophomore Joe Kirsten spotted a gap in the Mids' defense and dove between the posts for another five points. Schumacher converted to make it 22-14.
 
Navy scored another converted try from a maul at minute 62. The Mids scored the go-ahead try at minute 67 and added the extras to make it 28-22.
 
The two teams battled for the remainder of the match and Cal created a few good scoring opportunities, but penalties stopped the Bears and the 80 minutes expired with Navy on top.
 
Cal concludes the season with a 13-4 overall record. The Bears now turn their focus to the end of the academic year, with final exams set to take place next week.
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs Navy
9:00 – O'Connell 5, Schumacher 2
13:00 – Shea 5
23:00 – Schumacher 3
29:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
38:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
Half: Cal 15, Navy 14
52:00 – Kirsten 5, Schumacher 2
62:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
67:00 – Navy 5, Navy 2
Final: Cal 22, Navy 28
 
Starting XV:
1. Emilio Shea 2. Nathan Zylstra 3. Charlie Walsh 4. Pat Deely 5. Tom Dixon 6. Luke Freeman 7. Cal Liebowitz 8. Alex Aguero 9. Solomon Williams 10. Max Schumacher 11. Max Threlkeld 12. Rand Santos 13. Kealan O'Connell 14. Evan Weigold 15. Joe Kirsten

Substitutions:
63:00 – Nate Salter
66:00 – Hugo Schreuder
70:00 – Jon Puckett
 
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