Walsh University advanced to the NCR D1 quarterfinals Friday night after weathering a stirring comeback from Indiana.
Walsh led, at one point, 26-0, but IU got within a try late.
Indiana started the game determined to challenge Walsh out wide. They ran fast and moved the ball to the edges and only some desperate defense and hard work from Walsh prevent an early try.
And as often happens, when a team gets out of trouble they are ale to turn the momentum. Walsh got a penalty for a tip tackle, took the lineout a little sloppily, and was able to power through the middle to score under the posts.
Jake Tolhoek converted and it was 7-0 for the Cavaliers.
Walsh scored again soon thereafter. Indiana failed to field a box kick from Clemente Aguirre cleanly and the ball was picked up by another Hoosier from an offside position. Walsh took the lineout, mauled it closer, and then ran Tolhoek around the back to take Aguirre’s pass and score in the corner.
The flyhalf added an excellent kick from the touchline the make it 14-0.
Then it was 21-0. A chip kick from Tolkhoek was chased down nicely by Nicola Bitossi Coronedi. With the conversion it was 21-0.
And as the first half entered its later stages, Walsh got a turnover from a sloppy ruck, and Aguirre sold a dummy and raced off down the field. He wasn’t going to make it all the way but smartly popped a kick down the wing where fullback Ayabonga Mkhokeli chased it down.
And that made it 26-0. Indiana needed something to turn the tide and they got it. Flyhalf Tommy Hannon stabbed a grubber kick through and while no Indiana player seemed near, the Walsh players were very lackadaisical getting back and seemed to think the ball would roll dead. While they waited for that to happen, Hannon sniped in unseen and touched the ball down.
It was now 26-12. Just before the break IU center Mikey Cabreros broke through and raced down the field. With defenders chasing him down he popped a kick into the Walsh 22. The IU players were there in support to recycle and the ball was quickly sent to Parker Wall. He fended off some attention and was in for Indiana’s second try.
Hannon converted and it was 26-12.
However, Walsh would have the last say in the first half. A penalty against Indiana right off the restart led to a Cavaliers lineout and they smartly mauled it over. The teams went into halftime with Walsh up 33-12.
