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Christendom rugby team wins national championship

For The Catholic Herald

Christendom’s Joe McMahon stretches across the line to score the winning points in overtime. Courtesy

CROP_rugby_joe-mcmahon-game-winning-try.jpg

The Christendom Crusaders rugby team won the NSCRO 7’s National
Championship in Philadelphia in dramatic fashion June 4, defeating St. Mary’s
College of Maryland in overtime 24-19. The victory brought the school its
first-ever national championship, as the Crusaders wowed the crowd of over
15,000 attendees with their incredible come-from-behind win.

 

The Crusaders earned their first trip to the national
championship after winning a qualifying tournament in March, in their first
official year competing in the National Small College Rugby Organization
(NSCRO). When they arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday, the Crusaders began the
tournament by competing in pool play, playing Colby College, Wisconsin Stevens
Point and New Mexico Highlands University. After defeating Colby and Wisconsin,
the Crusaders fell in a tough match to two-time defending champions New Mexico,
but still finished the day with the number one seed in the pool, earning them a
trip to the semifinals the next day.

On Sunday morning, Christendom played Babson College inside Talen
Energy Stadium, quickly jumping out ahead of the Beavers. While Babson would
soon tie the game, the Crusaders answered with more tries of their own, winning
the match 24-5 and, more importantly, winning a trip to the national finals.

With over 15,000 watching, the Crusaders charged onto the field
for the final against St. Mary’s College of Maryland. St. Mary’s showed why
they had earned their own trip to the finals, beating the Crusaders throughout
the first half and ending the first seven minutes with a 14-0 lead. The
Crusaders refused to back down, and opened the second half with two tries of their
own, narrowing the lead to 12-14. They quickly lost momentum, however, as St.
Mary’s charged down the field for another try, raising the score to 12-19 with
less than two minutes remaining in the game. With no time left on the clock,
the Crusaders pushed their way down the field, with Derek Casey willing his
body over the line to bring the Crusaders within two points. Team captain Joey
Kuplack made a successful conversion kick, sending the game into overtime.

The Crusaders wasted no time as overtime began. Michael McMahon
grabbed the ball and made a breakaway down the field, bringing the entire crowd
to its feet. St. Mary’s brought him down close to the try line, but his
brother, Joe McMahon, ran up to grab the ball. 
With St. Mary’s at his heels, McMahon dove into the end zone, scoring
the game-winning try. The match was over, with the Crusaders winning 24-19, and
earning Christendom its first national title. Fittingly, Joe McMahon was awarded
most impressive tackle of the championship, along with most valuable player.

The Crusaders are the smallest school in the NSCRO by a wide
margin, especially compared to fellow NSCRO teams Duke University and the
College of William and Mary. Making it to the national championship in a field
of hundreds of schools was a tremendous achievement on its own, but winning the
championship was even more stunning.

The Crusaders rugby team has grown into great success over the
years, winning the Four Leaf 15s tournament, setting a school record with 20
wins, and becoming the first Christendom varsity sport to have an undefeated
season. This year, they went 16-3-1 in 15s play, while also winning the St.
Mary’s College NSCRO 7s national qualifier tournament.

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