Old Glory DC’s 2025 campaign ended in a 27-16 defeat to Chicago Hounds on Saturday night in
Bridgeview.
The loss marked the second consecutive year that OGDC was eliminated in the conference
semifinals, and the third straight year that Old Glory DC qualified for the Major League Rugby
postseason.
Saturday’s match began on the right foot for Old Glory — specifically, Jason Emery’s right foot,
as the center raised the flags for penalty goals in the eighth and 20th minutes to get OGDC out
to a 6-0 lead.
The Old Glory defence looked stout throughout the early stages of the match. Chicago did not
get on the board until the 30th minute, when Chris Hilsenbeck scored a penalty goal to cut the
deficit in half to 6-3.
OGDC’s response was immediate, as Emery split the sticks only three minutes later to restore a
six-point lead for the visitors. The first try of the match was scored in the 37th minute, as Peyton
Wall outran the Old Glory backs down the left flank to dot the ball down. Hilsenbeck added the
conversion, and Chicago led for the first time, 10-9.
Chicago’s bid for a halftime lead was snuffed out on the final possession of the first half. Old
Glory connected a series of passes from left to right, and John Rizzo was waiting in the corner
to receive the final offload. The winger beat the Hounds defender to the try zone to retake the
lead. Emery added two more points, and the halftime score was 16-10 in OGDC’s favor.
The back-and-forth scoring continued in the second half. A 50th-minute lineout deep in Old
Glory’s defensive territory yielded another Chicago try. Prop Charlie Abel powered through the
lines to bring Chicago back within one, and Hilsenbeck’s conversion gave Chicago the
advantage again.
Hilsenbeck added three more points in a penalty goal in the 60th minute to open Chicago’s lead
to 20-16. Old Glory responded with sustained possession, with Connor Buckley at the center of
much of the ball movement. Buckley tallied a match-high 96 passes, and sits third in MLR in that
category.
Despite the possession, Chicago was able to keep Old Glory at bay. In the 70th minute, Ignacio
Peculo barrelled in for another Chicago try that needed to go to TMO to be confirmed.
Hilsenbeck’s conversion made the score 27-16.
A late Old Glory push was stymied by turnovers and a late Facundo Gattas yellow card, and
Chicago was able to see out the rest of the clock to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.