Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas College men's rugby team laced up against the Iowa Central CC Tritons for a homecoming contest on Saturday (Sep. 21). Once again the Saints took to the Highland Park field with hot and sunny weather. The two teams have history as they have been playing since the inaugural year of Aquinas men's rugby. The contest started and ended physically as both teams looked for the edge. ICCC managed to find the first points of the contest but AQ went on to break off with a substantial lead and finish the contest in front. At the final horn AQ earned their homecoming victory by a score of 37-28.

Aquinas 37, Iowa Central CC 28

Iowa Central began the contest with the opening kick. The battle for possession started swiftly after. Due to an early penalty, the Tritons of ICCC converted on a penalty kick. Finding the first score of the match at the third minute. 

The Tritons went on to convert on another penalty kick in the 12th minute, upping themselves to 6-0.

Scoring remained in penalty kicks as Archie Fleming capitalized on two PK conversions, one in the 20th minute and another in the 25th. Fleming's kicks returned the contest to even ground. 

In the 33rd minute ICCC missed a PK conversion but netted their next opportunity in the 35th. Once again separating themselves from AQ, this time 9-6.

This far into the contest, both teams only managed scores from PK's, neither managed to break past the try line. 

This all came to change in the 39th minute as Jackson Andrews was the scoring man from a double offload sequence, Fleming came to convert pushing the Saints to 13-9.

AQ returned quickly to the try line a minute later, as this time Nathan Shaffer punched it in as Fleming added the conversion, AQ now stood 20-9.

The Tritons exited the pitch acknowledging that they were taking on water, as AQ walked off knowing they were supplying it.

With the commencement of the second half, AQ continued to press on as Shaffer once again connected with the try line just two minutes in. Shaffer's back-to-back trys put Aquinas up to 25-9.

In the 53rd minute AQ once again returned to the try line, this time in a stylish fashion as Sam Whitmore managed to stand tall and defeated the defense with a spin move. Fleming made due on the conversion. AQ continued to increase the gap as the Saints now stood 32-9. 

Aquinas had the energy of the contest and they knew it. Seven minutes after Whitmore, Michael Morales broke ground and made due with a try. The Saints now holding a 37-9 lead over the Tritons. 

Even down the visitors still had fight. An AQ yellow card led to an ICCC try and conversion in the 64th minute, 37-16.

The physicality of play resumed and even intensified as both Marcel Denysschen and Fleming found thunderous hits. Here emotions flared as both teams had to be separated. Aquinas would be penalized with another yellow card. 

Iowa Central had a rallying of emotion as they began their advantage. In the 70th minute, the Tritons went on to score a try and conversion from their optimal field advantage. ICCC began closing the gap, 37-23. 

In the 76th minute, AQ was awarded a PK but were unsuccessful on their conversion. 

Two minutes later the Tritons returned to the try line as they continued to lessen the gap, 37-28.

The Tritons continued to battle their way back into the contest but Aquinas returned to full strength and held off ICCC for the remainder of the contest.

With the final whistle, the Saints had earned their heightened homecoming win over the visiting Tritons of Iowa Central CC with a score of 37-28.

By the Numbers

• Fleming continues his dominant kicking by going two for two on PK's, and three of five on conversions.
• Andrews, Whitemore, and Morales all tally a try as Shaffer managed two
• This win puts AQ over ICCC in their history, now 4-3.

Here is what Head Coach Lance Hohaia, 'We played well in patches but let ourselves down in certain areas, especially towards the end of the game. We lost some momentum, but defended well overall to close out the game. There are still plenty of areas we can improve on for next week."

Up Next

The Saints will return to road play next week as they make way for Principia on Saturday (Sep. 28) with a noon kickoff.