UMass-Lowell started their Rugby Northeast season up and down, beating St. Michael’s, losing to Roger Williams, beating Bentley (barely), and losing to Providence - but then things changes.

Since that October 2 loss to Providence, Lowell has not lost, including another win, not as close,  over Bentley in the semis, and Saturday in the final against previously undefeated Roger Williams.

“For the past month every game has been a playoff game for us,” said UMass-Lowell Head Coach Josh Skinner. “Since that loss against Providence we knew it was lose and you’re done.”

Photos by Todd Dowrey.

That sense of urgency, plays the return of some injured players, started to put it all together. Last week’s semifinal win over Bryant was the first time all yea they had fielded the same lineup two weekend in a row. Even then, it required a comeback - down 27-12 Lowell scored 27 unanswered points to win.

Against Roger Williams on Saturday, the Lowell players were still stung by their September 19 46-12 loss to RWU. 

“It was hard to take a lot away from the game earlier in the year,” said Skinner. “It was our second game of the season. In that game we had a try called back for using the referee as a screen, and that would have put us within 26-19, but after that the game got out of hand.”

It was a different scenario on Saturday. Lowell led 15-14 at halftime, but had finished strong the week before and were determined to do so again.

“We were happy to play them at home where we had more room for our backs; our strength is in our backs,” said Skinner. “The kids wanted it. They’ve put in the work. 

And Lowell exploded for 33 second-half points and a huge 48-21 win.

Leading the way was scrumhalf Matt Charest, who was named the player of the game, and hooker Nick Mogren, a sophomore #2 who has been the team’s mainstay as a defender and in running support lines. 

But it was, as well, a team change. At 2-2, they had to win the rest of their games to finish 6-2, knowing that a slip to 5-3 could well have meant not playoffs.

Instead, they are Rugby Northeast champions.

“We’ll see how we do after this,” said Skinner. “All we can do is keep playing.”