MORAGA, Calif. – After leading for most of a tightly contested match, Life University fell to a late surging St. Mary's College in the DIA National Championship.

The Running Eagles got on the board early as they found pay dirt with a try and conversion at 6'. The Gaels would cut the lead to 7-6 with back-to-back penalty kicks at 9' and 11'. St. Mary's took their first lead at 18' with their first try and conversion, taking a 13-7 lead. They increased their lead to 16-7 with yet another penalty kick at 22'. Life U kept battling and cut the lead and eventually went back out in front with a try and penalty kick at '27 and '38, leading 17-16 as the half expired.

The Running Eagles came out hot out the intermission, adding a try in the first nine minutes of the second period for a 24-16 lead. From there, the tide would start to shift toward St. Mary's as they trimmed the lead to 24-22, with back-to-back penalty kicks at 50' and 62'. The Gaels took the lead to stay at 25-24 with 15 minutes remaining on another penalty kick. St. Mary's put the game away with a final try at 75', claiming a 30-24 victory and the DIA National Championship.