(Release and photo courtesy Curtis Ostler, Norwich University)

STONINGTON, Conn. - The Norwich University men's rugby team lost a heartbreaker to the United States Coast Guard Academy on Saturday in the New England Collegiate Rugby Conference (NECRC) championship match.

After losing a close game to CGA at home in October, the Cadets were eager to have another shot at the Bears and take home the conference championship.

Coast Guard (8-0 overall) went on the board early with a converted try at the seventh minute and a penalty kick three minutes later, making the score 10-0. But the Cadets (7-3 overall) came back when Josh Nowak raced down the left touch line for a try. The Bears scored again to make the score 17-5 at the half.

Coast Guard scored thirteen minutes into the second half to make the score 22-5, but the Cadets were not finished. Nowak scored again ten minutes later and Long Ding converted the kick to make the score 22-12.

With five minutes left in the game, Gianni Miceli ground his way in for a try and Ding again converted, bringing the Cadets within three points at 22-19. Norwich kept the ball on the Coast Guard side of the pitch for the final five minutes and made many pounding attempts to put the ball across the line, but the Bears held tough, ending the game at 22-19 and taking the conference championship.

Norwich President Richard Schneider, himself a Coast Guard Academy graduate, was on hand to cheer on the Cadets against his alma mater.

"Today was a great Veteran's Day for me with two great teams facing off so close to my heart," Schneider said. "Both teams played incredibly well, very tough. We just ran out of time. The Norwich men made me proud to be their President."

With the victory, Coast Guard earned an automatic bid into the USA Rugby Sweet Sixteen Round of the National Tournament.

-CADETS-