MARIETTA, Ga. --- On a wet, rainy and muddy early afternoon contest, the Life University men's rugby team picked up their second win of the 2024-25 season after coming from behind to earn a hard fought win over D1A opponent Mount St. Mary's 21-19.  

The Running Eagles took some time to find their footing, trailing after Mount St. Mary's scored the only try of the first half in the 25th minute. The first half battle was plagued with penalties as both teams struggled to maintain clean possession due to tough wet field conditions. In the second half, Mount St. Mary's tabbed the second try of the contest in the 47th minute. Moments later, the Running Eagles responded with a try of their own after sustained offense in the final third resulted in a Logan Ballinger try. Bradley Crane converted the tough angled kick to cut the Mountaineer lead, 12-7. 

Crane then broke the line and scored a try of his own after a great kick and bounce ended with Crane diving into the try zone. Crane's conversion moments later gave Life U its first lead of the contest, 14-12. 

Life U's lead was responded to just minutes later after the Mountaineers efficiently moved the ball and  broke through on the outside to retake the lead, 19-14 (after the conversion). With just under ten minutes to play Life U's attack piled on the pressure deep into the Mountaineers' final third, eventually breaking through with just under four minutes to play. Bautista Araujo was the final Running Eagle that eventually broke through, scoring the final try of the game after a fake pass and dive into the try-zone. An ensuing Bradley Crane conversion confirmed the win as the solid Life U defense held on and fought through the final whistle as Mount St. Mary's final attack fizzled out, 21-19. 

Individually, Logan Ballinger, Bradley Crane and Bautista Araujo scored tries while Crane continued his dominance with a perfect 3/3 in conversions.  

Director of men's rugby, Dr. Blake Bradford, spoke on the team's performance, stating, "It was a tough day at the office, but we managed to outwork them in the second half to get the W. We braved the elements with both a tough travel day and some wet and muddy conditions, but we put ourselves under pressure early on. I'm proud of the grit we showed in the second half to get the result."

Up next, the men's rugby team returns home to face the University of Mary Washington next weekend for a 1 pm showdown on Lupo Family Field.