The Shippensburg University men’s rugby team lost their head coach and most of their senior starters this offseason.

Coming into 2014 they knew they had to make a quick turnaround, because as a Division I squad the team plays opponents such as Penn State, West Virginia University and Rutgers.

After a slow start, first-year head coach Dan Roth and captains Tyler “Stones” Burke and Dale “Doback” Hoover pulled the team together to finish 2-2, outscoring the final two opponents by a combined score of 113-27.

“As a team we were off to a rough start,” said coach Roth. “We played some pretty tough schools, and we felt that we had a lot to learn. As the season went on, we grew in confidence as a team, and the players were able to pick it up a little bit better. By the end of the season they were playing very good rugby and it gives us a good head start looking forward to next year.”

Shippensburg rugby lost its first two scrimmages to Lock Haven and Penn State, and got pushed around a little bit in a non-conference loss against Rutgers. In their first divisional games the team lost to WVU and the University of Pittsburg, but gained experience that would be key in the final two games.

The team played Millersville during homecoming week on October 25, and punished its No. 1 rival in a 53-8 win.

The last game of the season versus West Chester resulted in a similar outcome, with SU blowing out their opponent 60-19.

“We started out slow with a couple of losses,” Said Burke. “But we came together at the end of the season to pick up the last two wins. I am proud of our team, and we are in a great position to do some damage in the division next year.”

Several key players returned this season to solidify the roster. Along with Burke and Hoover, a number of other veteran players including Sean “Taco” Houck, Dalton “Dolphin” Daywalt, Michael “Balin” Thomas and Rich “Pain Train” Hargrove provided crucial playing time for Shippensburg.
Roth knew coming into the season that his team would have to work hard to make the transition, but had faith that SU could return to success after a season in which it finished with only one loss.
Shippensburg’s new head coach brings plenty of experience to the table. He started playing rugby in the summer of 1997, and has competed at a high level for many different teams.

“I played for several Pennsylvania clubs, most notably Old Galic and Media Rugby, ” Said Roth. “I currently play with a group of friends on the ‘Rovers,’ a travelling tournament team. So I am still a current player, and I coach youth rugby as well.”

With a more experienced team and a strong coaching staff, Roth and company is looking forward to coming out strong next season. Look for SU rugby to be serious contenders in their 2015 season starting next fall.

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