SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Kutztown University men's rugby team bounced back from its first setback of the season to defeat Notre Dame College (Ohio) 27-10 on the road last Saturday, Oct. 6 in a Rugby East Conference game.
 
The Golden Bears (1-1 overall) trailed 3-0 early on, but scored 27 of the next 34 points to claim their first regular season victory.
 
After a penalty kick by the Falcons that gave them the early 3-0 lead, junior Angel Santiago (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) recorded the try for KU three minutes later.
 
Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) added a penalty kick to put KU in front 8-3, but Notre Dame would score a try and add the conversion to go back up 10-8 with 27 minutes gone.
 
Nearly 12 minutes later, senior Joe O'Shields (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) tallied a try to give Kutztown the lead back for good. Juniors D'Montae Noble (Falls Church, Va./George Mason) and Jackson Clark (Greenville, S.C./Greenville Senior High Academy) each scored tries and O'Connell added a conversion for the 27-10.
 
The Kutztown Second Side was also on the winning end, winning 65-5 over Notre Dame.
 
Kutztown returns home for a conference showdown with Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. on the North Campus Rugby Pitch.