Indianapolis, Ind. -- For the AQ men's rugby team, nothing short of a trip to nationals will make the season a success. And while children of all ages were dressing up as their favorite characters on Halloween, Coach Lance Hohaia's squad had a particular look in mind: conference champions. Before trying that on, though, the Saints had to get past Indiana Tech.

Aquinas 50, Indiana Tech 13

One more win, and that championship look could become a perfect fit.

Aquinas earned the first conference finals appearance in program history Saturday, overcoming early pressure from Indiana Tech before finding its stride in the Big Rivers Rugby Conference semifinals. The Saints finished with eight tries from six different players, turning a challenging opening stretch into a 37-point victory.

The final score tells you where the afternoon ended. Getting there took some work.

Indiana Tech held the majority of possession early, forcing AQ to spend the opening stretch responding to the Warriors. The Saints needed the ball and an opportunity to establish the style of rugby that had brought them to the postseason.

Toward the end of the first half, Aquinas began finding both. AQ settled into its rhythm and started taking control, setting up a second half that gave Hohaia plenty to like.

The Saints kept the ball in hand, built pressure and let their attacking ability take over. Once Aquinas got going, several Saints made sure their names were part of the story.

Jacob Easterling crossed for two tries, while Liam Inman matched him with a pair of his own. Xavier Tito-Nekeare, Mason Maczuga, Trayvon Mathis and Liam Scott-Pages each added a try, giving AQ six different scorers on an afternoon when the offense found its footing and kept moving.

Inman's contribution continued with the kicking duties. He converted five of AQ's eight tries, adding 10 points to the 10 he scored himself for a 20-point afternoon.

For Hohaia, the second-half performance showed what his team could do when it maintained possession and built pressure. For the Saints, it earned another week together and a chance to bring home a championship.

Chicago is next. And the Maroon and White will arrive with something to play for that no previous AQ men's rugby team has had: a conference title in the program's first final.

Aquinas improved to 5–1 with the victory, while Indiana Tech fell to 5–3.

Saints Snapshots

• A First, With More to Chase. This team has taken AQ men's rugby somewhere it has never been: a conference final. That distinction belongs to these Saints, with the opportunity to add a championship to it next Saturday.
• The Response Matters. Indiana Tech applied the early pressure, and AQ had to work its way into the match. Finding that rhythm before halftime—and carrying it into a stronger second half—was the response Hohaia wanted with the season's next step at stake.
• Pick Your Saint. Six different AQ players accounted for eight tries, with Easterling and Inman each scoring twice. Once the Saints established their attack, the scoring responsibility was shared across a group ready to finish the job.
• Twenty From Inman. Inman delivered both with the ball and off the kicking tee, combining two tries with five conversions. His 20 points helped turn AQ's attacking opportunities into a decisive semifinal victory.
• The Standard Travels. The Saints began the afternoon chasing a trip to nationals and left with a conference championship opportunity. Hohaia's "back to work on Monday" message says plenty about a group that still has goals to reach.

Coach's Comments

Hohaia credited the Saints for finding their rhythm and producing a stronger second half. He also made sure the celebration came with a reminder that there is more work ahead.

"We started a little slowly, and Indiana Tech put us under pressure early with the majority of possession. But we found our rhythm towards the end of the first half and started to take control of the game.

"I thought we really stepped things up in the second half. We kept the ball in hand, built pressure, and started playing the style of rugby we want to play. That allowed our attacking ability to really shine through.

"I'm proud of the boys for making history and reaching our first conference final. It's a great achievement for the program, but we've got another big challenge ahead of us next week, so it's back to work on Monday."

Up Next

It's now off to the conference finals for the Saints. Next Saturday, November 7, AQ will travel to Lions for Hope Sports Complex in Chicago, Ill., to play for the Big Rivers Rugby Conference Championship. The game is set for a 4:45 PM start, with AQ challenging Marian University for the conference crown.

Keep checking AQSaints.com for updates, stories, features and statistics on Aquinas men's rugby and all Saints sports.

It's a great day to be a Saint!