Rugby to host Cal Lutheran in playoff matchup

The Keelhaulers will host the Kingsmen on Saturday, March 24 at 2 p.m. at Bodnar Field, as Cal Maritime looks to defend their California Cup title.

Cal Maritime comes into the playoffs as Conference Champs and are looking to take home another PacWest Regional Championship. The Keelhaulers were co-champs with Claremont Colleges in 2016 and '17, and were outright champs in 2015 and '12. Head Coach Steve Hiatt is prepping his side for postseason play and defending their home turf.

"It's alway a little special going into the knock-out rounds of the playoffs," Hiatt said. "Everything gets a little sharper, the competition studies you harder, so you've got to raise your game. We love it. As a coaching staff we love it, the players love it, and it gives us a chance to celebrate the support we get at Cal Maritime as well."

The Keelhaulers have won the Pacific Coast League's Western Division Championship in eight of the last nine years, made two Final Four appearances (2012 & 2015), and finished with a top-five ranking in three of the past six seasons in the National Small College Rugby Organization, which includes over 240 men's college rugby teams. Cal Maritime is currently ranked 9th in the country in the NSCRO.

Coach Hiatt is bracing for Cal Lutheran's physical style of play.

"Cal Luthern has been to this level a couple times," Hiatt said. "This will be the third time we've faced them in the last six or seven years. They're always very athletic and have some size on them. A lot of their football players play rugby after their football eligibility is up, so they come ready to play. They're usually not complicated or trying to trick you, they're going to run over you and run through you."

If you can't make it to the game watch it live at portal.stretchinternet.com/csum for $7.95, or get live updates on the Keelhaulers twitter page.