Halloween monsoon: NU 20, Fordham 17
Two games these men will never forget: the Maddogs win the semi-final in a downpour, and the B side wins 48–10.
The Maddogs play Iona for the Liberty Conference championship on Saturday at Union Point in Weymouth.
First side
After weathering an early Maddog attack, Fordham used several key NU errors to take possession, roll down the field and score a converted try just seven minutes in.
Fordham spent the next 20 minutes fending off NU assaults and profiting from NU errors, mostly inside their own 22, until a penalty let #10 Matt Urrea kick three points. Five minutes later, relentless Maddog pressure forced several offside penalties, and the referee sent Fordham’s #7 to the bin just before half: Fordham 7, NU 3.
At 46 minutes the Dogs blew up a Fordham ruck and #12 Dor Perl won a penalty at the breakdown. #9 Manny Eduque quick-tapped to Urrea, and the forwards secured a dangerous knock-back and moved it to #12 Alvaro Borrego, then to a crashing #15 Nick Hudson and finally into #14 Ryan Connolly’s hands for the try along the touchline. Urrea’s huge conversion from the touchline put the Dogs up 10–7.
A run of Maddog knock-ons and a penalty let Fordham level it at 10 with a straight-on kick.
At 68 minutes, with the rain at full monsoon, Connolly tipped a Fordham clearance back to Hudson, who countered into the Fordham half and twice pooch-kicked toward the line. Fordham fumbled, and Borrego pounced in the in-goal for the score: 15–10.
Minutes later, #8 Alex Parciak took a Fordham knock-on and streaked toward the line. The ball was cycled to the backs with the penalty advantage, then into the hands of #1 Dhendup Dorjee, who barreled over for the winning try, 20–10. Fordham scored one last try as time expired, but it was too late. Final: NU 20, Fordham 17.
Second side
The Killer B’s dominated Fordham’s second side. 33 Maddogs played like champs after soaking in the rain for 90 minutes, and thanks to a great referee and the young Dogs’ skill, the game stayed smooth and entertaining despite the raging rain. Final: NU 48, Fordham 10. The future is bright!
