Fort Wayne, Ind. — Championship rugby rarely travels in a straight line. Some days it's a sprint, some days it's survival, and some days it's a gut-check that tells you exactly what kind of team you have when the pressure hits. Saturday, the Aquinas men's rugby side showed all three versions of itself. There were explosive attacking bursts, lockdown defensive stretches, and perhaps most importantly, the kind of response that reveals postseason DNA. By day's end, the Saints walked away with a third-place finish, a pool title, and plenty of momentum as the calendar now flips toward the biggest stage of the spring.
Game One — Aquinas 28, Indiana Tech 14
The Saints wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, controlling possession and dictating pace from the jump. Dominic Zavala got AQ on the board first with a bruising hole-running finish, setting the physical tone that would carry through the morning.
From there, Gavin Thompson put his electric footwork on display, slicing through multiple defenders before touching down for the Saints' second try. Marcel Denysschen added another score just before halftime, and Liam Inman was perfect on conversions, sending AQ into the break with a commanding 21–0 edge.
Indiana Tech made things interesting in the second half, capitalizing on early possession and scoring two quick converted tries to trim the margin to 21–14 with under two minutes left. Just when the pressure began to rise, Trayvon Mathis delivered the dagger, crossing for the clinching try, while Inman's conversion put the finishing touch on a composed opening victory.
Game Two — Aquinas 40, Thomas More 0
If game one was composed, game two was an avalanche.
AQ turned in one of its most complete attacking performances of the day, overwhelming Thomas More with six tries in a 40-point shutout. Gavin Thompson was sensational, recording a hat trick as his pace in space became nearly impossible to contain.
Liam Inman, Noah Davis, and Xavier Tito-Nekeare each added tries of their own as the Saints' shape and spacing repeatedly created numbers advantages. Inman once again controlled the extras, knocking home five conversions in six attempts to punctuate a dominant all-around team showing.
Game Three — Aquinas 21, Drury 5
The Saints closed pool play the same way they started the day — sharp, fast, and in control.
Thompson continued his try-line tour with the opening score, using his burst to break the Drury line early. Dominic Zavala followed with a crafty finish of his own, mixing patience, deception, and pace to find daylight.
AQ's defense may have been the bigger story, however, as the Saints absorbed several dangerous Drury pushes while staying structurally sound. Inman converted both early tries before exiting midway through the second half due to injury.
With the Saints needing a finishing spark, Noah Davis brought exactly that, flying under the posts in the closing minutes to seal the win. Jack O'Malley's conversion capped the 21–5 result and secured the Saints atop Pool A heading into bracket play.
Semifinal — Rio Grande 24, Aquinas 19 (OT)
With Liam Inman sidelined, the Saints were forced into adjustments heading into the semifinal, and Rio Grande took advantage early.
AQ found itself in an immediate 19–0 hole as Rio capitalized on unforced errors and a few costly discipline lapses. Momentum was firmly with the RedStorm, and the Saints needed a complete emotional reset at halftime.
They got it.
Marcel Denysschen ignited the rally with a spirited second-half performance, helping AQ claw back into the match. Denysschen and Dominic Zavala each crossed to cut into the deficit, and suddenly the pressure had shifted.
Then came the moment that defined the day.
With time expiring, the Saints pieced together a relentless multi-phase attack, and Trayvon Mathis finished the sequence to tie the contest at 19–19 as regulation expired.
Golden-point overtime followed, and after a brave defensive stand, Rio Grande eventually found a crease and ended the thriller 24–19, denying AQ a shot at the title match.
Third Place Match — Aquinas 35, Indiana Tech 14
Great teams answer disappointment with edge, and the Saints did exactly that.
Marcel Denysschen wasted no time setting the tone, scoring twice in the opening four minutes as AQ stormed ahead 14–0 behind two Jack O'Malley conversions.
Indiana Tech answered late in the half to make it 14–7, but the Saints never allowed the match to tighten. Gavin Thompson broke loose for another highlight-reel try in the second half, and O'Malley followed with a determined score of his own to push the lead to 28–7.
After Tech added a late score, Trayvon Mathis delivered the exclamation point with his third try of the day, putting the Saints comfortably in front and securing the tournament's third-place finish.
Saints Snapshots
• Pool A Champions after a perfect 3–0 start in pool play
• Gavin Thompson erupted for a massive scoring day, including a hat trick vs Thomas More
• Trayvon Mathis delivered three tries on the day, including the dramatic semifinal equalizer
• AQ finished as the tournament's second-best defensive team
• The Saints outscored opponents 143–57 across five matches
Coach's Comments
"I was proud of the group today. There was a lot to like in how we attacked, and at our best we played with good tempo, shape, and intent. We also finished the day as the second best defensive team. We showed character, especially in the semifinal, to fight our way back into the contest when things were not going our way. There are still areas we can tidy up, particularly around discipline and consistency, but overall it was a positive day and a good step forward for this group," said head coach Lance Hohaia.
Up Next
The Saints now turn their attention to the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s Nationals, set for Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 in Washington, D.C. The national stage now awaits, and if Saturday's resilience was any indication, this group looks ready for the moment.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live stats, streaming links, and full post-game coverage of all AQ Saints athletics.
