BOYDS, Md. -- Kutztown's quest to return to the national championship match met an abrupt end, Friday, when the Golden Bears were upset by Siena, 19-5, in the second round of the Premier Cup at the Collegiate Rugby Championship National 7s.

The top seed in the Midwest Region, Kutztown got off to a strong start with a 36-0 victory over Iona in round one. Aidan Smith (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull), Cameron Thurtell (London, England/Pearson Edexcel) and Chris Cleland (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) registered first half tries as the Bears built a 15-0 advantage. In the second, Lasha Asanidze (Tbilisi, Georgia/Blackrock College), Smith and Henry Thomas (Whitekirk, Scotland/Loretto School) had tries with successful conversions allowing KU to pull away.

In what turned out to be a theme of the opening day, Kutztown was the first of three No. 1 seeds to fall. Penalties and cards hampered the Maroon and Gold in their second round match with Siena. The continuous whistles stymied the Golden Bear attack and the Saints were able to take advantage for a 19-5 victory that relegated KU into the Premier Plate bracket. Thurtell had the lone try for KU.

Fellow No. 1 seeds Iowa Central (East Region) and Dartmouth (South Region) were bested in the quarterfinal round of the Premier Cup, leaving defending champion Wheeling (West Region) as the lone No. 1 to advance through to the semifinals.

Kutztown bounced back with a 19-14 win over an excellent American International side in the Premier Plate quarterfinals behind a total team effort from all 12 players that took to the pitch. Thomas, Thurtell and Jacob Stelluti (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) earned the tries for KU.

Kutztown will look to close out the tournament with a pair of wins on Saturday. The Bears will have to get through Mary Washington in the Premier Plate semifinals at 3:40 p.m. in order to have a shot to finish as high as ninth overall.