CRC Culminates with Men’s National Championships

April 30 - Despite several inches of rainfall through the weekend, the Collegiate Rugby Championship crowned four men’s national champions Sunday at the Maryland Soccerplex. Mount St. Mary’s upset top-seeded Indiana to win the Men’s Premier, the University of San Diego toppled Clemson to claim Men’s Division I, IUP repeated as Division II champs with a win over North Carolina State, and Babson lifted the Small College trophy over Springfield. 

In the Premier final, Jude Fangmeyer’s hat-trick paced the Mountaineers past the decorated and talented Hoosiers, 19-5. Fangmeyer opened scoring first off a long breakaway, and Indiana’s Will Chevalier answered back, collecting a long grubber for a try. The conversion was missed, leaving IU down 7-5 at the half. Fangmeyer scored early in the second stanza to make it a two-score game, and once more near the death to seal the win.   

In Division I, San Diego kicked off to start the match and won the ball in the air, leading to Daniel Hoovel’s opening try. The Toreros scored another in short order to wrest control of the match before Michael Ramos picked up a yellow card for playing a man without the ball. Clemson failed to score with a man advantage, but with two minutes left in the game, Baylor Williams was able to put Clemson on the board with a try to pull within three. Ramos returned from the sin bin and redeemed himself with a huge breakaway that would lead to the game-sealing try for San Diego, and ultimately being named MVP in the 15-7 win. 

In the Division II final, The Wolfpack took an early lead when Rory Illman, who had a great tournament, scored a minute into the game. N.C. State’s defense forced multiple IUP turnovers in the first half, but a high tackle by Elie Rozier for NC State would lead to a penalty try for the Crimson Hawks, forcing both teams to go into halftime tied at 7. Halfway into the second stanza, Dalton Peluso scored to give IUP a 5-point lead. A missed conversion gave The Wolfpack new life, but IUP was able to gain possession for the last 30 seconds to seal the win, with Dom Holmes being named MVP. 

Babson took control of the Small College final early over Springfield and never looked back. The Pride picked up an early yellow card, and Alex Bolt dotted one down for the Beavers during the power play. Santos added another try for Babson, giving Babson only a 10-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Kehinde Adenle scored Babson’s final try, cementing the win. Santos claimed MVP honors for his two-score effort.