'Pure Will' Drives New England Free Jacks to Thrilling MLR Semifinal Win
QUINCY- Kyle Ciquera was holding back tears after the New England Free Jack's Major League Rugby Eastern Conference Finals match against Chicago.
The New England native had just won the game for his team in the final minutes.
Ciquera converted a try in the 78th minute, lifting the Free Jacks to a 21-20 victory over the Chicago Hounds and sending them to their third-straight MLR championship . New England trailed 17-0 53 minutes into the match.
Trailing by one, Chicago was awarded a penalty goal attempt with no time remaining. The kick hit the left upright and stayed in bounds before the Free Jacks knocked the ball out of play to seal the comeback.
"It's just my dream. It was my dream to play here," Ciquera said, getting choked up. "It means everything to me."
The moment was even sweeter for Ciquera given his stature with the team. The Putnam, Connecticut native is one of five players still on the Free Jacks roster from the team's inaugural season in the MLR in 2020.
Ciquera attended and played rugby at Bishop Hendricken High School, and went on to play in college at St. Bonaventure University. He joined New England as a product of the Free Jacks Academy, winning Most Improved Player in 2022.
With his try, Ciquera and the Free Jacks are one game away from making history. With another championship, New England would become the first team to win three straight titles in the league's eight-year history.
New England awaits the winner of the Western Conference final between the Utah Warriors and Houston SaberCats, taking place at 9 p.m. Saturday. The MLR championship will take place on Saturday, June 28th at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Chicago jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of play. The Hounds scored a try and conversion goal in the 12th minute to take a 7-0 lead, and extended the lead on a penalty goal in the 18th minute.
The Free Jacks remained scoreless heading into halftime, and into the first 13 minutes of the second half. Chicago again scored early in the second half on another penalty kick to lead 17-0 with 44 minutes remaining.
Momentum swung in New England's favor at the 54-minute mark of the contest. The Free Jacks scored back-to-back tries by Jed Melvin and Cam Nordli-Kelemeti to trim the Chicago lead to 3.
Chicago scored again on a penalty goal with 19 minutes remaining to push the lead to 6. New England continued to knock on the door of a try over the next 17 minutes, and finally broke through on Ciquera's try.
The Free Jacks were in a battle just inches from the goal line for couple of minutes before finally breaking through.
"It was just pure will," Ciquera said. "We know what we can do and we know what we can put out there everyday. "We're used to it."
The Free Jacks took a one-point lead on the try as it occurred under and in between the goal posts, giving them an automatic 7 points instead of having to attempt a two-point conversion goal.
Chicago quickly pushed down the field in desperation following the score, and had an opportunity to essentially walk-off with a successful penalty kick, but Christopher Hilsenbeck's kick banged off the left upright with no time on the clock.
The ball remained in play and New England needed to push the ball out to touch to end the match.
Free Jacks head coach Ryan Martin said he had never been a part of a finish to a rugby match quite like the one on Saturday afternoon.
"To win or lose a game on the width of a rugby post is an incredible thing isn't it?" Martin said.
While Ciquera's try put the Free Jacks ahead, Martin said the play of the game came all the way back in the 14th minute of play. Already up 7-0, Chicago appeared to be headed out to a 14-0 lead in less than 15 minutes when the Hounds had a breakaway.
Paula Balekana had other plans however, as he tracked down Chicago, stripping the ball inside of 10 yards to go, giving the ball back to New England.
He didn't know it at the time, but the play ended up being the difference.
"Throughout the week, we talk about executing in everything we do," Balekana said. "Defense, attack, just all execution."
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 'It was just pure will': New England Free Jacks advance to MLR semifinals in thriller
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