Gainesville, Fl. – The Aquinas College men's rugby team delivered an impressive showing at the Sunshine 7s tournament, battling through a demanding slate of Division I opponents to earn a runner-up finish. After opening with a dominant response against Clemson Tigers, the Saints demonstrated resilience in a draw with South Carolina Gamecocks and secured decisive victories over Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers to reach the championship. Aquinas ultimately finished second after a hard-fought final against Notre Dame Fighting Irish, capping a weekend defined by grit, depth, and cohesive team play.
Game 1 – Clemson Tigers
After a slow start that saw Clemson strike first, the Saints quickly shifted gears and responded with 43 unanswered points. Trayvon Mathis crossed twice, showcasing his pace and power on the edge. Liam Inman added two tries of his own through guile and deception, while Dominic Zavala finished twice with excellent support lines and clinical hole running. Noah Davis delivered the final blow late in the match. Inman added three conversions to cap off a dominant response.
Final: Saints 43 – Clemson 5
Game 2 – South Carolina Gamecocks
The Saints faced a determined South Carolina side ready for a physical contest. An early mistake at the kickoff allowed the Gamecocks to score, and they added another just before halftime to take a 14–0 lead into the break. The Saints rallied with resilience and composure. Liam Inman sparked the comeback with two creative tries, converting both to level the match. Aquinas finished as the stronger side, pressing hard in the closing stages, but the contest ended in a 14–14 draw.
Final: Saints 14 – South Carolina 14
Game 3 – Alabama
By the third match, the Saints were finding rhythm and cohesion. Liam Inman sliced through the Alabama defense early and added another under the posts shortly after. Second-half replacements Nick Hernandez and Elijah Uyenco injected energy and impact, both crossing for tries to extend the lead. Inman converted three as the Saints closed out a composed 26–10 victory.
Final: Saints 26 – Alabama 10
Game 4 – Indiana
Indiana, a 7s powerhouse, has historically been a tough matchup for the Saints. This time, Aquinas delivered their most complete performance of the tournament. Gavin Thompson set the defensive tone with outstanding reads and physicality, putting the Saints on the front foot. Trayvon Mathis found space on the edge to open the scoring, though Indiana responded quickly to level the match at 5–5 by halftime. The Saints built momentum in the second half, showing tremendous defensive resilience, including holding firm while down a man due to a yellow card. Marcel Denysschen produced the decisive moment, stepping through defenders with clever footwork to score under the posts. Inman added the conversion as the Saints secured a statement win and advanced to the championship final.
Final: Saints 12 – Indiana 5
Championship Final – University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame controlled much of the early possession and capitalized with two first-half tries to take a 12–0 halftime lead. The Saints showed grit and resolve in response. Trayvon Mathis crossed late to narrow the margin to 12–5, and Aquinas mounted one final attacking push. Despite their efforts, time expired before the Saints could complete the comeback.
Final: Notre Dame 12 – Saints 5
Coach's Comment
"We had four weeks of indoor training and just one outdoor session before coming here to compete against quality Division I programs. To finish second and perform the way we did in the scorching heat is a testament to the quality and character within this team," said head coach Lance Hohaia. I'm incredibly proud of the way the guys showed up and competed. We've identified a few areas we can improve, and we'll be addressing those in detail over the next few weeks"
