With the Sweet 16s beginning this weekend, the Penn State men's rugby team needed a tough, physical and fast -paced game to prepare.

The Ruggers got exactly what they asked for when they went up against intrastate rival Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) last weekend at home.

The Ruggers snagged the go ahead try in the latter minutes of the game to win 29-22.

"We played really well," Penn State men's rugby coach Terry Ryland said. "It was just what we needed."

However, the Ruggers also got something they didn't need. Captain Brett Cowan tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his knee, an injury that will force him to sit out for the rest of the season.

"It is hard to replace him," Ryland said. "He is a leader by what he does."

The game started with the Ruggers getting off to a slow start, committing penalties and failing to nail the points in when they had the chance.

"We had opportunities early in the game that we did not covert," Ryland said.

IUP came out with an aggressive game plan that combined the blistering speed of its back three with its imposing pack.

The Ruggers were able to stymie IUP's attack by playing aggressive defense to limit IUP's scoring chances.

"They had several breaks over 40 meters but we were able to track them down," Ryland said.

That all changed in the second half as the Ruggers began to buckle down, continued to play aggressive defense and started to dominate the game.

"I was happy with the way we stuck with it," Cowan said. "We didn't let down."

The Ruggers spent most of the second half camped in IUP's territory, but failed to capitalize on all the scoring opportunities, including a winger knock-on at the tryline toward the end of the game.

With the hard-nosed mentality and the stinging defense the Ruggers displayed, they are hoping this will continue when it faces interstate rival Ohio State in its first Sweet 16 game this weekend.

"I think we are going in the right direction at the right time," Ryland said.