The Marshall University men’s rugby team fell to Xavier University Saturday by a score of 69-0.

The game placed the Musketeers two games up in the Great Lakes-South Conference with only one game left in the season for the Herd.

Marshall (2-2) consistently held Xavier (4-0) between the 10 and 40-yard lines during four 10-minute stretches throughout the game, but the Musketeers still put up 39 points in the first half and 30 in the second half.

At halftime, with the score 39-0, Marshall head coach Justin Apgar told his team the Musketeers’ size had no bearing on the score.

“It’s just a bunch of medium-sized bodies utilizing good technique,” Apgar said. “It takes four to five of our guys to take down two to three of theirs. Then, it’s taking two to three of our guys to take down one guy, and it’s only because they’re getting lower than we are.”

Apgar said while the team struggled during the game, flanker Jun Morisue was the lone bright spot on the day.

“It was a tough game,” Morisue said.  “We need to stay strong next game because not staying strong was a bad point on our end. We need to stay solid out there.”

Morisue said the team lost because of the Musketeers’ efficient tackling and good positioning, which hindered Marshall from protecting its end zone.

“Next time, we have to get lower and have better positioning. That’s it,” Morisue said.

Marshall will finish its season with a road game against Eastern Kentucky University 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.

Scott Bolger can be contacted at [email protected].