MARIETTA, Ga. --- Life University men's rugby team picked up a win on a sunny Saturday afternoon on Lupo Family Field, dominating Belmont Abbey College 67-17. The Running Eagles had nine different players score throughout the game to continue the 2024-25 season. 

Belmont Abbey opened up the game by scoring a penalty in the second minute and taking the lead, 3-0. Life U and Belmont Abbey kept battling, it was not until the 14th minute Nahuel Wingword ran through the Crusaders defense to score the first try of the game. Bradley Crane took care of the conversion to put the Running Eagles in the lead, 7-3. 

In the 22nd minute, the Crusaders were able to break through the Running Eagles defense to score their first try of the game and secure the conversion kick, making the score 10-7 to Belmont Abbey. Only two minutes later, Bautista Araujo scored the teams second try to put the Running Eagles back in the lead on the scoreboard, 12-10.

Life U was now in control of the game and kept creating a lot of space in which Seth Kramlich made sure to take advantage off. Kramlich scored a try in the 30th minute to add another five points to the scoreboard. Crane took care of the conversion making the score 19-10. Life U was on a roll and in the 33rd minute Tevita Mapa scored a try and the Running Eagles were in a 26-10 lead. In the 40th minute, right before halftime, Shaun Mattysen added the last try of the half to go into halftime with a 31-10 lead. 

The Running Eagles started off the second half strong as Wingword scored his second try of the game in the 41st minute adding to the lead, 36-10. Life U kept their offensive roll and scored another try in the 45th minute as Logan Ballinger bulldozed through Belmont Abbey's defense expanding the score to 43-10 after the Crane conversion. 

In the 51st minute, Philani Simamane ran through the Crusaders defense to extend the lead to 48-10 to dominate the game. Belmont Abbey was able to get back in the game in the 60th minute to score a try and add a conversion to the scoreboard making the scoreboard, 48-17. 

Life U kept their roll going and scored yet another try through Kade Cunningham who ran through the Crusaders defense to add to the lead, 53-17. With about 10 minutes left of the game, in the 68th minute, Life U scored a try through a strong scrum that took the ball over the try line extending the lead to 60-17 after a successful conversion by Jonty Lee. 

The Running Eagles weren't done yet. In the 72nd minute, Seth Kros came through the defense on the far left side to add the last try of the game to give Life U a convincing win, 67-17 after another successful conversion by Lee.

The Running Eagles will travel for their next contest, facing Navy at 11 AM on Saturday October 19th.