Crusaders Fight Hard at Frostbite 7's Tournament
Lancaster, Pa.- The Crusaders traveled to compete in the Frostbite 7's Tournament, facing a challenging field of opponents throughout the weekend. Despite a difficult opening day, the team showed resilience and growth, highlighted by a strong win over Rutgers after falling to them earlier in pool play.
Day 1 – Pool Play
The Crusaders opened the tournament against Rutgers in a tightly contested match. Frank Woltering struck first with a try and conversion to give the Crusaders a 7–0 lead. Rutgers responded with several scores to take control of the match, but the Crusaders stayed within striking distance thanks to a try from Conrad Woltering before halftime.
In the second half, Mark Patryn crossed the line with Frank Woltering converting to briefly reclaim the lead at 19–17. Rutgers answered late with a converted try, ultimately taking the match 24–19.
The Crusaders then faced a very strong AIC side that controlled the match from the outset. AIC capitalized on several opportunities and maintained possession throughout, handing the Crusaders a tough 57–0 loss.
Against Fordham, the Crusaders again faced an early deficit as Fordham built a multi-score lead by halftime. Henry Kolesar broke through late in the match with a try, converted by Nate Sheedy, putting the Crusaders on the board in a 31–7 result.
The matchup with Niagara was a competitive contest throughout. Jesse Schwartz opened the scoring for the Crusaders, but Niagara responded with two tries before halftime. Conrad Woltering added another Crusader try in the second half, but Niagara pulled away late to secure the 26–10 victory.
Day 2
The Crusaders earned a rematch with Rutgers and capitalized on the opportunity. Conrad Woltering opened the scoring early before Dan Di Falco added another try, converted by Frank Woltering, to give the Crusaders a 12–0 halftime lead.
Rutgers narrowed the gap early in the second half, but Peter Schmidt sealed the victory with a try converted by Woltering. The Crusaders secured a strong 19–12 win, avenging their earlier loss and showcasing the team's improvement over the course of the tournament.
In the Plate Final, the Crusaders faced Nazareth. Nazareth controlled possession and momentum throughout the match, ultimately taking the final 28–0.
Despite the results, the Frostbite 7's Tournament provided valuable experience against strong competition. The Crusaders showed resilience, particularly in their rematch victory over Rutgers, and gained important development opportunities that will help the team continue to improve as the season progresses.