NEED TO KNOW
Score: Millenia Atlantic University D1AA 35, Life University D1A 33

DORAL, Fla. — The Life University Men's Rugby team mounted a late comeback and took the lead in the closing minutes, but a late MAU try in the 80th minute and a Bruno Tavanti conversion in the 81st minute lifted the hosts to a stunning 35-33 victory on Saturday.

Millenia Atlantic opened the scoring with a try from Tomas Galli in the fifth minute before Tavanti converted to make it 7-0. Life answered quickly when Joubert Vivier crossed for a try in the 10th minute, and Jonty Lee's conversion leveled the score at 7-7.

The hosts regained the advantage with tries from Jonatan Januszevski and Menendez Torras in the 27th and 33rd minutes, respectively, with Tavanti converting both scores. The Running Eagles stayed within striking distance as James Rose scored in the 35th minute before Shaun Matthysen added a try just before halftime. Lee converted Matthysen's score to cut the deficit to 21-19 at the break.

Millenia Atlantic extended its lead early in the second half when Tavanti scored a try in the 48th minute and converted his own score one minute later to push the advantage to 28-19. Life responded with a determined comeback effort, beginning with a try from captain Seth Kros in the 64th minute. Lee's conversion trimmed the deficit to 28-26.

The Running Eagles continued to battle and found a breakthrough in the 78th minute when they scored a try to move in front 31-28. Lee added the conversion in the 79th minute, extending Life's lead to 33-28 heading into the final moments.

Millenia Atlantic had one final response. Menendez Torras recorded his second try of the afternoon in the 80th minute to tie the score, and Tavanti's conversion after time expired proved to be the difference as the hosts escaped with the 35-33 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Life scored five tries.
• Jonty Lee converted four of Life's five tries for eight points.
• Menendez Torras scored two tries for Millenia Atlantic, including the match-tying try in the 80th minute.
• Tavanti finished with a try and five successful conversions for 15 points.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• Kros helped spark Life's second-half rally with a try in the 64th minute.
• Lee contributed eight points through four successful conversions.
• The Running Eagles erased a nine-point second-half deficit and built a five-point lead late before Millenia Atlantic scored the decisive converted try in the closing moments.