Keelhaulers fight back but drop Consolation Game

Cal Maritime Rugby stormed back from a 13-point, second-half deficit to take a two-point lead with three minutes left in the the Pac West Third-Place Game. But the University of Denver Pioneers scored on a last-second try to win it 28-25.

Phoenix Benitez scored the first try for Cal Maritime, after the Keelhaulers blocked a kick which caused the University of Denver to scramble and led to a desperation kick away.

With the game tied at 5-5, John Bulaich got the Keelhaulers within inches of a try, before Sean Carroll put it in after swinging wide left. Even from a very difficult angle, Michael Mukuru-Tumusiime was barely no good from the far left corner on the conversion attempt, and Cal Maritime led 10-5.

A blocked kick had Cal Maritime trapped in left corner of their own side of the field for a while, before a long run by George Petrucci and another by Joseph Belman got the Keelhaulers back out across midfield.

The Keelhaulers thought CJ Ferrigno eventually broke through right side for a try, but it was called back, and Cal Maritime went into the half leading 10-8.

Just minutes into the second half the Pioneers punched it around left side, and the Keelhaulers trailed 13-10. Another Denver score made it 18-10 Pioneers with just under 28 minutes left in game, followed by another run around the right side to make it 23-10 Pioneers.

Head Coach Steve Hiatt went to his bench to get some fresh legs and to get his reserve players some minutes, and it payed off for the Keelhaulers as they fought back. Mike Otair scored a try to cut the deficit to 23-15 with 15 minutes remaining, Carroll would score for a second time along with a good conversion to make it just a 23-20 lead for the Pioneers.

With just three minutes left in the match, Jacob Paxton broke through to finish a long run for the Keelhaulers, putting Maritime back on top 25-23. But Cal Maritime couldn't hang on as the Pioneers worked their way down field and scored a try to the right of the goal post on the last play of the game to clinch the third-place victory.

The Keelhaulers will lick their wounds and recover from a couple of tough post-season losses before preparing for the NSCRO 7's Championship June 2-3 at Talen Energy Stadium in Philadelphia.