GRR: Rutgers
St. Joseph's and Rutgers both clinched 1st place in their respective divisions in the Keystone Conference this weekend, as both recorded two-point victories.
Rutgers upended Delaware Friday night in a non-conference clash for both teams.
The result, a 15-12 victory for Rutgers, was perhaps a little bit of a surprise, and either a wakeup call for the Blue Hens, a signal that Rutgers is one the rise, or perhaps both.
The Keystone Rugby Confefence will kick off in late September in a mad rush of a season that involves eight teams.
With James Madison having moved on to the Chesapeake Conference, and Shippensburg men's rugby on suspension, the conference is back to eight teams in two divisions.
For Vassar and Rutgers, Sunday's conference championship is less about winning the Tri-State title and more about gauging the strength of their respective rosters. The pair have already guaranteed their places in the DII fall Round of 32, and regardless of Sunday's outcome, both will host their playoff-openers.
Tri-State opened up its women’s college season this weekend, seeing four DII matches take place alongside three DII hybrid/NSCRO games. The traditional DII leaders – Rutgers and Vassar – won on the road, while Marist and Hofstra also started the fall in good form.