West Point won a defensive battle on the road in Marietta, Ga. Wednesday night, defeating the Life Running Eagles 14-10.

Army has been on a warmup trip looking to get ready for the playoffs. Certainly Head Coach Matt Sherman wants his side to be ready to perform in the postseason, and he has been rotating players through the first two games of his preparation, a 34-12 win over Queens University on Saturday and then this game tonight.

This was the second time in three games that Army had beaten a highly-ranked Mid-South team. They beat Lindenwood 26-17 in November, albeit at West Points Anderson Rugby Complex. This result, on the road, is arguably even more impressive. 

Army got on the board first with a try in the sixth minute to lead 7-0. But after that both defenses shut things down. Neither team could break through and it was 7-0 at halftime.

Life scored first in the second with a penalty kick two minutes in. But the key moment was when hooker Matthew Meehan went over. Sean McNulty converted and it was 14-3.

Life kept up the attack and finally scored with time winding down. But the Army defense was just too good.

"Life challenged us the entire game and fought until the final whistle," said Army center Ben Kelly. "With only a couple of days between games I was extremely proud to see how many brothers stepped up to help the team earn two hard wins. It was an incredible start to the spring and we are excited to see where we go from here."

"Proud of how the brothers kept composure during a tough close game," added lock Collin Grosse. "The physicality and toughness we brought gave us immense confidence in our ability to beat Life and set the tone for how Army Rugby will play this spring."

All season, fall and winter, the Army front row such as tonight's trio of Isaac Marret, Meehan, and Larry Williams have set the platform. With scrumhalf Tiaan Mosconi helping open up a little more open style of play, Army has been tough to beat. They are now 10-1, with the only loss being 21-10 to Dartmouth in a non-conference game that saw a shuffled lineup for West Point. They have beaten Queens (twice), St. Bonaventure, Air Force, Navy, Penn State, Kutztown, Notre Dame College, Lindenwood, and now Life.