Tucson, Ariz - The University of Arizona Wildcats Rugby team hosted the Army Black Knights Friday night at Murphey Stadium. While the team battled hard, the Wildcats fell short, losing their second game on the young season by the final of 54-17.

Army put their psychical strength on display from the very beginning, scoring two tries, one from Royce Vessell and the other through Drake Fleming, within the first 20 minutes of the game. Arizona didn’t go quietly though, as senior flyhalf Trent Fischer knocked through a penalty kick from long range, making it a 12-3 contest with five minutes to play in the first half.

Army would strike back though with a try of its own with just under two minutes to play in the half, with flanker Marshall Moten going over to make it 19-3 at the intermission.
Arizona came out to start the second half strong, winning two straight scrums that eventually led to try by sophomore Andrew Lundahl to bring the ‘Cats within nine at 19-10 after the successful conversion by Fischer.
Arizona went on to make one last charge in the contest as senior center Nick Sarris scampered in for a 20 meter score, but in the end it was too little too late, as the Black Knights went on to win 54-17.

“Army played very well,” said Arizona head coach Dave Sitton. “They were able to expose a lot of weaknesses we have right now. Thank goodness we still have two weeks to get all of this worked out.
The Wildcats will try and rebound tomorrow afternoon when they take on New Mexico State Saturday, while West Point takes on Arizona State Sunday.

Army 54
Tries: Hardee 2, Ulses, Beck, Bounds, Vessell, Fleming, Moten
Convs: Holder 7

Arizona 17
Tries: Lundahl, Sarris
Convs: Fischer 2
Pens: Fischer