UMW hosted Life University (Ga.) today at the Battleground and while it is a cliche it is a worthwhile cliche to say the final score did not reflect how tight the game was. 

Life scored first about 15 minutes into the game as both sides played adequate defense. UMW took a few series to figure out Life's scrum but mid first half they started to knock on the door and multiple Life penalties led to UMW slotting a kick to make it 7-3. The score remained 7-3 for about 20 min until a couple defensive lapses and precision execution by Life led to a 21-3 halftime score. 

UMW was not without chances and Max Plumb and Sebastian Schefermann both had 40 meter breaks up the middle but UMW was not able to score. Stuart Duncan looked good in the centers and scrumhalf Kit Waddington really changed the game in the last 20 minutes. 

UMW rallied in the second half and as they were starting to make things interesting Life committed a yellow card in front of the posts preventing a UMW try - as UMW celebrated closing the gap and making the game interesting the referee pulled everyone back for a penalty and signaled no try, even as the Life player was sent off - UMW unfortunately did not captilize on the opportunity and Life kicked to clear. 

Very soon after Life scored off a picked pass and a defensive lapse that were far to easy for a game of this caliber. 

The first 50 min of the second half overall were very tight with a lot of side to side and back and forth play - again, UMW fell just short too many times to count. 

Final score was Life 40 and UMW 21 - UMW can be very happy with the effort but not the execution. 

The second side game was sort of the same with Life leading UMW 5-0 for a large portion of the first half into the second. Matthew Clinton, Evan Remick, Luke Willis, Douglas Moscrop and too many others to list stepped up and represented well for UMW. Final score was 25-5 with both teams playing an entertaining game. 

Next week is Mount St Mary's at home in an important league game.  See you at the field!