After two fairly straightforward shutout victories, the West Point men’s rugby team now faces a sterner test as the Knights host Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday.

For captain Donny Goff (no relation to this website’s editor), getting a tough test like the Cardinals is just what they need.

“We feel good about where we are, and we’ve had a good week of practice,” the Army team captain told Goff Rugby Report. “But we have a lot of things to build on. We’re learning a new style of play. Our game used to be more of a smashmouth game, but now we have more of a back’s approach, more finesse. For some of us, myself included, it’s an adjustment. And late in the game, when we get tired, we revert to the old style.”

The new style came with a new coach, former Stanford Director of Rugby Matt Sherman. Goff said that Sherman impressed from the outset, in part because he didn’t try to be military, since he’s not. He uses his assistant coaches to translate some of his ideas into terms familiar to the cadets.

“We found out who our coach would be kind of late in the day, so we were a bit antsy about what he’d be like and what our approach would be like, but that immediately went away when we met him,” said the prop. “Coach Sherman is a fresh start, and he ensures we maintain a high standard.”

While the players are learning a new approach to the game on the field, off the field Goff is learning much, too. As a Regimental Command Sergeant Major, he has a key leadership role among the student body. He is in charge of regulations and discipline for a quarter of the cadets. It’s a job that requires a lot of extra responsibility - any time a cadet gets into any sort of trouble, he is involved. 

At the same time, as captain of a rugby team handling a coaching transition, Goff has had his work cut out for him.

“At first it was fairly overwhelming with the new responsibility, rugby, and schoolwork; it was about finding the right balance and seeing how leadership works on the other side,” said the Defense & Strategic Studies major, who was a standout hockey player in high school in Framingham, Mass. “But I have learned to trust in my subordinates a lot more. I realize that people will rise to the challenge if you let them. We’ve got a lot of leaders on this team.”

And this team has some goals, too. In 2014 Army went a somewhat surprising 7-0 in Rugby East play before falling to Life University in the ACRC Bowl Series and then being beaten by Davenport in the DIA playoffs.

This year, they are looking for a step more.

“There are always goals talked about on the side of the field, but really the most important thing is that day of practice,” explained Goff. “That next rep, that next play, that next game. How are we going to play better each week? We have big goals, but right now we’re just saying that every day matters, and every rep matters. That’s how we approach it.”

While West Point (2-0 in-conference) hosts Wheeling Jesuit (1-1) in the most compelling Rugby East game of this weekend, there are three more games on the slate:

Iona (1-1) at St. Bonaventure (0-2)

Kutztown (0-0) at  Buffalo (0-2)

Penn State (2-0) at West Virginia (1-1)