KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The ninth-ranked Kutztown University men's rugby team climbed back twice when trailing by double digits, but could not make it all the way back, falling in a back-and-forth match 32-27 to fifth-ranked Penn State University in a Rugby East Conference game last Saturday, Oct. 13 at the KU Rugby Pitch.
 
The Golden Bears (1-2 overall) trailed 19-8 in the first half and 29-15 in the second half, but each time battled back to pull within at least four points. They were down by just two (29-27) with six minutes remaining and were hovering around the Nittany Lions goal line, but were unable to punch it in.
 
Penn State would add a penalty kick in the 78th minute to secure the victory.
 
Keyon McCloud tallied two tries for the Maroon and Gold, and Lucas Ortner (Melbourne, Australia/Box Hill) and Breyten Maritz (Cape Town, South Africa/Paul Roos) each contributed a try. Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) recorded one penalty kick that opened up the KU scoring.
 
Kutztown will hit the road in its next match when it takes on Wheeling Jesuit this Saturday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.