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LATEST NEWS

• Norsemen Alumni Weekend 2013 Smashing Success

  With 6 foresomes thoroughly confusing the starters at Blue Ridge Trails County Club on Friday afternoon April 26, the 2013 Alumni Weekend got off to a great start, with Alumni representing several years, decades, and a group with current players took to the links under sunny skies. Every participant miraculously shot even par 72 on the day... not necessarily their TOTAL score, but all took at least 72 shots(not to be confused to shots taken later at Oscars). The highlight of the day had to be the brush fire started on hole #8 by Senior #8 Joe Daly, whose driver head broke off, flew into the scrub area in front of the tee, and incurred spontaneous combustion with the dry meadow grass.Luckily, Joe is returning for a 5th year at The U... as he tried to extinguish the growing brushfire by fanning the flames with his windjacket... BRILLIANT... luckily there were liquids in the golf carts and the town of Mountaintop was saved by quick thinking Norsemen.

  Friday evening saw a beautifully catered top shelf dinner in Brennan Hall hosted by The University’s Alumni Relations Department, with many Alumni sharing a great meal and conversation with current Norsemen Seniors, continuing the tradition of Norsemen Brotherhood. Saturday afternoon produced perfect Spring weather with brilliant sunshine and a sprited rugby match, with many Alumni showing great skill and no evidence of aging or loss of condition. Then the game entered minute #2.

  A great match was played with all Alumni and all current players getting action with rolling subs,with the Alumni coming out on top 35-26,handshakes and bear hugs all around,with everyone talking about plans for 2014.

  Thanks to all the Alumni who planned the event, put together the Black and Green Directory, more on links to that document in June.

• Norsemen Summer Rugby
  
  • Saturday, May 18 - Break Em 7s - hosted by Wilkes Barre Scranton Breakers... all day... location – public fields on Rt 11 in Forty Fort, PA. (Wyoming Ave) behind Pa State Police Training Center.
  • Saturday, June 15 - Tony’s 10’s - hosted by Cortland-Homer RFC in memory of Tony Bistocchi, Scranton Norsemen we all lost last May... location... Buttermilk Fall State Park, Ithaca, NY
  • Saturday, July 20 - Surfside 7
  • Tuesday, August 27, 6 PM - Fall practice starts
• Norsemen Success At Philly Cup
  
  

  Following luxury motor coach to 4 star hotel on Friday night…well…Martz and Motel 6…the Norsemen embarked Saturday morning April 13 on Spring Season goal of winning the Philly Cup.

  Competing in the Premier Division ,on muddy bog pitch at Pennypack Park,Scranton opened the completion with a 4 try Win of 24-10 over Conference rival Villanova.

  Game #2 saw the lead score seesaw back and forth with a come from behind Norsemen Win over another Conference rival Bloomsburg.

  Scranton then entered the Semi-Finals as #2 seed in the tournament,and we drew Empire State Conference power Norwich University, 32 seed in New England Rugby Conference, Nationally Ranked #13 D2, and who are in USA Rugby Collegiate D2 Sweet 16s this Spring. With 6 Norsemen A side starters unavailable due to injury advancing to The Finals was a big ask.

  The Norsemen answered. Tough, hardnosed, grinding play, in third game of the day in energy sapping mud….team depth at some positions and rookies stepping up in others, saw the Norsemen battle from being down 10-14 at with 8 minutes to play,then fight back with everything in the tank to Win the match 18-14.

  This was a great match, with opponents, coaches, refs, and spectators complimenting the quality of rugby demonstrated by the Norsemen Brotherhood,and in Coach Gregory’s judgement was the most memorable match in 10 seasons,since becoming Head Coach in 2008.

  By 5:30 PM kickoff of Game 4 our tanks were dry… we battled Drexel to 0-7 at halftime, we had 2 tries disallowed, and went on to lose to Drexel.

  We brought home some hardware,The Premier Divison Runner-Up Trophy….but our effort and teamwork were Champions caliber.

  On April 20 we had a mixed side Friendly with all players (majority of A team sat out) vs. a combined side of half Lafayette/half Wilkes Barre Breakers players, with much high level game action seen by our younger and inexperienced Norsemen, then got ready for 7s season with a 4 game roundrobin against D1 Stoneybrook at Southside on Sunday.

• Regular Season Fall 2012-Spring 2013
  
  

  Sep. 15, 2012	Scranton	36	Lock Haven	39
  Sep. 22, 2012	Scranton	34	Bloomsburg	24
  Sep. 29, 2012	Scranton	19	Villanova	15
  Oct. 10, 2012	Scranton	58	Lehigh	5
  Oct. 20, 2012	Scranton	36	Lafayette	5
  Oct. 27, 2012	Scranton	35	East Stroudsburg	40
  Nov. 3, 2012	Scranton	13	York	7
  Nov. 11, 2012 MARC Playoffs	Scranton	24	Drexel	31
  Mar. 16, 2013	Scranton	17	Lock Haven	12
  Apr. 6, 2013	Scranton	22	West Chester	5
  Apr. 13, 2013	Scranton	24	Villanova	10
  Apr. 13, 2013	Scranton	17	Bloomsburg	13
  Apr. 13, 2013	Scranton	18	Norwich	14
  Apr. 13, 2013	Scranton	0	Drexel	26

  
  Overall Academic Year
  
  

  2012-2013 Overall Record 10 - 4

  Points scored : 353

  Points allowed :262

  
  Community Service Accomplished
  
  

  6 Service initiatives:

  • Fall Move in
  • Safe trick or Treating
  • Breast Cancer Awareness “Pink Jersey” match
  • Cinderella’s Closet
  • Southside Cleanup
  • Awareness day/ fundraiser for Salvation Army Camp Ladore in Carbondale, serving local underprivledged kids.

  KUDOS to THE SCRANTON NORESEMEN…both on and off the pitch….Jesuit “Men for Others”.

• Strong Start to Spring 2013 Leading Up to Philly Cup April 13 2013
  
  The Norsemen started Spring 2013 with vigorous February of indoor high performance weight and cardio training at New Breed Athletics, an elite training center in Scranton.
  
  After a controlled situational scrimmage vs DeSales University in the Southside Snow on Wed., Apr. 13, we opened vs MARC Conference finalist Lock Haven on April 16.
  
  At end of regulation 80 minutes(again in the snow!) and the score at 12-12, both teams agreed on sudden death overtime,in which the Norsemen were first to strike to earn a 17-12 victory.
  
  Following 2 weeks off for Easter/Spring Break,we traveled to old nemesis West Chester University (D1AA) on Saturday April 6, and secured a sweet win over the Golden Rams 22-5, coming within 4 minutes of a shutout.
  
  Both the Lock Haven and West Chester matches saw several rookies stepping into the Scranton A side, emphasizing the depth we showed in our successful Fall 2012 campaign.
  
  This Saturday April 13 we look forward to competing for Championship Hardware at the annual Philly Cup Collegiate Tournament.We compete in the Premier Division, with a 9:20 AM kickoff vs. Mid Atlantic Rugby Conference rival Villanova, followed by a 12:40PM kickoff vs D1AA power Millersville. Semi finals kickoff at 3:30 PM with the Cup game kicking off at 5PM. Field location is on the Delaware River in Pennypack Park in Philadelphia.
  
  Mapquest address is 7901 State Road Philadelphia, PA 19136 (entrance to complex is adjacent to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility).
  
  Saturday April 20 we are at Southside vs MARC opponent Lafayette Collge, followed Sunday April 21 at Southside with Scranton 7's Round Robin; among participating teams are Stoneybrook Unin of NY, Lafayette DeSales: Each club will be putting out 2 sides, so an exciting afternoon (NOON-4PM) of round robin 7s for players of all abilities will be served up.
• Alumni Weekend APRIL 26/27
  
  The NAA (Norsemen Alumni Association) expects a strong turnout for this re-union weekend. We start with a Golf Outing Friday April 26 at Blue Ridge Trails in Mountain Top,followed by a catered dinner in DeNaples on Friday evening, where Norsemen seniors have a chance to network with Alum and get some much needed mentoring on the post U work world journey ahead.Saturday April 26 at 1PM sees the Alumni vs Current team match, renowned for creative attempts at rule bending and the fantasy to recapture the glory days of youth at Da U. More details to follow.

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Hoodies, stadium pants, shorts (and much more!) are now for sale. Click Here

Fundraising

• Please see details of the Scranton Norsemen fundraising initiative. Click here to read full letter.
• The largest need of fundraising is for bus transportation to away games, and of course the playoffs and championship matches we are planning on winning. Transportation is a safety and liability issue that must be addressed.

Thank You to the National Guard for sponsorship of our team.