Fort Dodge, Iowa — In a physical, back-and-forth contest that tested every ounce of their composure, the Aquinas men's rugby team earned a gutsy 26–19 road victory over Iowa Central on Saturday afternoon. The win marked AQ's third of the fall season, improving the Saints to 3–1 overall with just one regular-season match-up left before the Big Rivers Rugby Conference Tournament. Despite facing disruptions throughout the fall — from scheduling changes to a canceled game with Adrian — the Saints refused to let adversity derail their momentum, battling through a hard-hitting Iowa Central squad to secure a statement win.
Aquinas 26, Iowa Central 19
The scoring came from four different Saints, showcasing the depth and versatility of Coach Lance Hohaia's squad. Shaundre Bekker opened the match with a powerful try, converted by Liam Inman, setting the tone early for the visitors. George Kilsby and Eli Uyenco followed with well-crafted scores to keep the Saints in front, while DonYale Sharp — returning from injury — punctuated his comeback with an electrifying try that reignited the team's intensity. Conversions by Inman, Dominic Zavala, and Jack O'Malley proved vital as Aquinas held firm down the stretch against a relentless Iowa Central offense.
Bekker's growth continues to stand out as his confidence and field awareness increase each week, while Sharp's long-awaited return added an unmistakable spark to AQ's attack. The Saints' defensive organization and work rate under pressure ultimately made the difference, especially in the closing stages when Iowa Central pressed for a late equalizer.
AQ Scoring Summary
Try – Shaundre Bekker | Conversion – Liam Inman
Try – George Kilsby | Conversion – Dominic Zavala
Try – Eli Uyenco | No Conversion
Try – DonYale Sharp | Conversion – Jack O'Malley
Inside the Numbers
• Four different Saints found the try zone in the win
• Aquinas improves to 3–1 on the season
• Three successful conversions by three different kickers
• The Saints are 2–0 in their last two outings
Coaches' Comments
Following back-to-back wins, head coach Lance Hohaia shared his thoughts during the long bus ride home:
"While we created a number of scoring opportunities, we didn't capitalize on enough of them and made some basic errors that we'll look to clean up moving forward. We also didn't build enough pressure and at times lacked patience with the ball in hand. That said, our defensive resilience once again stood out, especially in key moments under pressure. Overall, it was a solid result on the road and there's plenty to build on as we continue to grow as a team."
Up Next
The Saints will close out their regular-season slate with a home contest against Drury University, on Saturday, October 18, 1:00 PM at Macatawa Sports Complex. Fans can follow live stats, scores, and recaps at AQSaints.com, or watch a full match replay of this game at AQSaints.com/Watch.
