Apr 15- Arizona made the trek to Berkeley this past weekend for a national quarterfinal against top-seeded Cal, looking to break through to the top four for the first time since 2017. 

 

The Wildcats would be aiming for fast start, but it was the hosts who would jump on early Arizona mistakes. An early penalty would give the Bears a lineout deep in the Wildcat half, with a defensive mistake creating a linebreak that would make it 7-0 early. Another penalty, this time a high tackle, would make it 10-0. "You just can't start like we did. We commit two pretty easily avoidable penalties and that's ten points right away" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy. A stolen lineout by the Bears would put them on the front foot again, breaking the line to make it 15-0 before a yellow card and penalty try combo would complete the early assault. Arizona would finally respond, stringing together positive phases and working their way into the Cal half before a well-worked maul would lead to another penalty try, this time against Cal for collapsing the maul which would make it 22-7. The first half would be Cal jumping on Arizona mistakes, including a late intercept try that would put the Wildcats in a deep hole at the break.

 

The second half would see a great surge, with several contributions up and down the roster. A dummy and go read by Flyhalf Saxon Gerstl would make it 46-14, before a pick and go try from fellow first-year Aston Gradwick-Light would make it 53-19. Another strong Arizona maul from five meters out would put Captain Cameron Blair over the line, make it 53-24. A kick over the top and tremendous kick chase would make it 58-31 as the back and forth continued. The Wildcats would make two more highlight plays, with Gerstl putting Winger Antonio Gonzalez through a gap to continue the scoring. Arizona's future would be on full display in the final stages, with Gerstl, Nick Morgan, PJ Enegren, and Brody Johnson combining on a 95 meter try to make it 45-74, a positive end to a back and forth second half that saw the Wildcats outscore the Bears 38-33. 

 

"If you told me we'd score 45 points, 38 in one half, I'd ask you how much we won by. But that start we had against Cal Poly is something you earn through disciplined rugby and following a gameplan. Credit to our opponents, Cal is a good side and we thank them for hosting. The overall feeling is proud, first for our seniors who have continued to raise the standard. The second is the youngsters, particularly the first-year guys who continue to demonstrate that if you are good enough, you are old enough. We lose first round last year, go one round further this year, so you love the trajectory even though losing is tough. The future is so bright for this program both on and off the field, and we have some huge projects in the works that will continue to supplement our on-field development so we can put this program where it belongs at the top of the mountain" said Duffy.

​​​​

Cal will advance to the national semifinal to take on St. Mary's College, while Lindenwood University will take on Life University in the east bracket. The Wildcats end the season in the top eight for the first time since 2019, and are set to bring back a large portion of this year's major contributors after celebrating a strong senior class led by captains Cameron Blair and Matteo Berenger.​​​​​​​​​​

​

Scoring vs Cal

Tries: Blair (2), Gerstl, Gradwick-Light, Gonzalez, Johnson, pen try

Conv: Berenger- 4/6

​​

1st XV vs Cal

​​1- Isaac Morrill

2- Cameron Blair- C

3- Dalton Slaughter

4- Aiden Kemp

5- Jack Bresland

6- Troy Norman

7- Tanner DeMassa

8- Jacob Jaffe

9- Jacob Hall

10- Saxon Gerstl

11- Jake Schumacher

12- Brody Johnson

13- Mattox King

14- Nick Morgan

15- Matteo Berenger- VC

16- Henry Langrish

17- Seamus McCarthy

18- Liam Swanson

19- Sean McNulty

20- Aston Gradwick-Light

21- Lucas Smith

22- PJ Enegren

23- Antonio Gonzalez

​​

​

​

​

​

​​​​​​​

​

​

​

​

​​​​​