Minnesota-Duluth made a big statement with a 61-12 defeat of previously unbeaten Northern Iowa.

 

The defending national champs put in a very strong performance against a team that was hoping to challenge them.

 

“The first half was the best rugby that we have played this season,” said Duluth Coach Jeramy Katchuba. “We have really been focusing on our open field play and it showed against UNI. The tight five also set the tone right from the beginning.”

 

UMD was missing tighthead prop Lars Anderson, who has been a big part of the Fighting Penguin effort, but the subs stepped in and played well.

 

UMD are led by Jake Leutgers, Derrick van Klein, and Logan Hanson, while the halfback hinge of scrumhalf Cody Christensen and flyhalf Trace Bolstad is starting to fire.

 

“Trace worked very hard during the offseason and is really starting to become a leader on our team,” said Katchuba. “He has all the tools to take him to the next level in the next couple of years. The player who has made the biggest strides for us is flanker Luk Desroches. He also put in a lot of work during the off-season and it shows on the pitch. He has a high work rate and has been doing all of the little things that don't always get noticed.”

 

This past weekend UMD also celebrated 40 years of rugby, and many of the men who founded the club in 1974 were in attendance, and were treated to a championship-level performance.

 

Meanwhile, Winona won big over St. Cloud State to match UNI’s new record of 2-1. North Dakota State pushed themselves into the conversation with a 49-5 defeat of in-state rivals UND, putting them at 1-1-1 and with eight points in the standings.

Latest Northern Lights DII College Standings

Northern Lights	W	L	T	BP	Pts
MMinnesota-Duluth	3	0	0	3	15
Northrn Iowa	2	1	0	2	10
Winona	2	1	0	2	10
North Daoka State	1	1	1	2	8
St. Cloud State	1	1	1	0	6
Bemidji State	1	2	0	2	6
MSU - Mankato	1	2	0	1	5
North Dakota	0	3	0	0	0