The Moosemen’s season finished during a 27-5 semifinal loss to the University of South Florida on March 26. It was their first loss of the season.

“They were a good team,” MTSU head coach Jody Hensley said. “We were with them 10-5 at the half, but we had a couple of injuries and silly mistakes in the second half. We had them at their breaking point.”

Before their first Independence Conference game Feb. 19, the players and coaches agreed they had to go undefeated in conference play to earn a trip to the playoffs. When conference play concluded March 19, the Moosemen was a perfect 4-0 and advanced to the playoffs.

“We were truly blessed to have a good, young team,” Hensley said. “They wanted to get better. They are quality young men and I look forward to coaching them in the future.”

The playoffs included the four conference champions in Division II. South Florida finished in the top spot in the Florida Conference with an undefeated 5-0 season. In the five victories, USF outscored their opponents 183 to 38.

It was the first playoff appearance for the Moosemen in the past few years that meant MTSU had limited experience in tournament play.

However, Hensley said playing in this year’s tournament would help the team in the future.

“I hope the experience will pay off for them in the future,” Hensley said.

Dogwood Conference champion, East Carolina University, defeated Southeastern League titlist, Vanderbilt University 22-9 in the other semifinal.

In the finals, South Florida knocked off East Carolina 29-11. However, both teams advanced to the USA Rugby national playoffs April 16.

The season is now over for the Moosemen, but they will make several changes heading into next season. In 2016, rugby returns to the Olympics, but in a seven-on-seven format unlike the current 15 on a side. This fall MTSU will play 7s, and then 15s in the spring. Also in the spring, the Moosemen moves up to Division I status.

“It will be a lot of movement for us,” Hensley said. “It will be a better level of competition and a new challenge for us.”

Even with the collegiate season over Hensley will stay busy as an assistant coach for the US national team that heads to Mexico City to play Mexico on April 10.