Senior flanker Steve Hurley knew it didn't look good, but a win is a win.

And beating the Buckeyes made it all the better.

Hurley and the Penn State Ruggers beat Ohio State, 22-19, in a match on Saturday that was "very unpolished," according to head coach Don Ferrell. After a first half that featured mainly dropped balls and missed opportunities, the Ruggers figured out their mistakes and pulled away in the second.

"It's always nice to beat [Ohio State], but it was very sloppy," Hurley said. "We missed a few chances to run up the score on them."

The game gave the Ruggers a chance to use all three sides, two against the Buckeyes and one against University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Penn State won all three.

The main problem with the team is a simple concept: playing together.

"We looked like a team playing an early season match," Ferrell said. "We just need the guys to play together; spending time together and adjusting to our system."

This was highlighted in a big scoring opportunity shortly after halftime.

After a scrum, a Rugger emerged from the pile with the ball and had a massive breakaway. With one defender to beat, he juked and tossed the ball to an open player. But the ball was overthrown and bobbled by the receiver, leading to a turnover instead of an easy try.

"We are starting to know each other," junior prop Scott Hills said. "We still have to learn each other's tendencies and how we play."

After losing many forwards, Hurley said the team is full of freshmen and new players. Among them is Joe Baker, who Ferrell believes could be key to the team's future.

"We wanted to give Joe a run at A-side," Ferrell said.

"That will let us move Justin [Lotter] to center, which has been hit hard by injuries."

Baker was given a rare opportunity to start at flyhalf as a freshman, and he took advantage of it.

Though flyhalfs predominantly kick the ball and order the players around, Baker found himself with the ball and in a 3-on-1 situation. He watched one guy go after a wing, leaving a small hole, and he took it. Before he knew it, Baker had his first try for Penn State.

"It's really exciting," Baker said. "To play for Penn State against Ohio State was great. My family came down and everything. It was really good to get my feet wet."

Though he has only played three matches, Baker said he believes in the recruiting class and has set a goal of winning a national championship within the next few years.

With Baker as the anchor, it may not be that improbable.

"He did a good job," Ferrell said. "He has a lot of work to do, but the whole team does. He is our flyhalf of the future."