Urbana-Champaign, IL — The Aquinas men's rugby team etched its name into program history this weekend, going 5-0 to secure the Paign 7s Championship—the first tournament title in program history. The Saints put together a dominant display, outscoring opponents 207-31 on their way to the championship.

Aquinas opened pool play with a hard-fought 17-14 victory over Purdue, setting the tone for a strong tournament run. The Saints followed up with a commanding 94-0 shutout of Illinois State, showcasing their offensive firepower. They closed out pool play with a 31-5 win against the University of Illinois before meeting Illinois again in the quarterfinals. In the rematch, Aquinas continued its strong form with a 29-7 victory, advancing to the final against Northwestern.

In the championship match, the Saints capped off their perfect run with a 36-5 win over Northwestern, sealing the tournament title in emphatic fashion.

Offensive Leaders

Several Saints made their mark offensively, led by Jacob Easterling, who recorded a tournament-best eight tries. Archie Fleming followed closely with seven tries, while Liam Inman added four to round out the top scorers.

Coach's Take

Head coach Lance Hohaia reflected on the program's milestone victory:

"I'm incredibly proud of this group. Over the past four years, we've made tremendous progress, and this tournament win, the first in our program's history, is a testament to that growth. The boys have put in the hard work to become a quality team, and we know there's still more to achieve. We're excited for the challenges ahead and the opportunity to keep improving as we take on more tournaments."
 

The Saints now turn their focus to upcoming competitions, carrying momentum from their championship performance as they continue their season.