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St. Mary's College has a history of winning across a variety of sports, including netball, rugby, and basketball. The college's teams are often referred to as the Gaels, and they have achieved notable victories in national championships and tournaments. One of their most impressive feats is winning the RSSL Division 1 Netball title nine times in a row, showcasing their dominance in the sport. St. Mary's College has also demonstrated success in rugby, claiming the national championship title in 2024, adding to their previous wins in 2014, 2015, 2017, and their national championship for rugby sevens in 2016. Additionally, in basketball, St. Mary's guard Jordan Ross led a remarkable comeback, helping the Gaels defeat Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sport | Netball, Basketball, Rugby |
| Outcome | Win |
| Opponent | Tawa, Vanderbilt, Navy |
| Score | 37-35, 59-56, 26-22 |
| Player of the Game | Erich Storti |
| Star Player | Augustas Marciulionis |
| Coach | Tim O'Brien |
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What You'll Learn
St Mary's College wins RSSL Division 1 Netball title
St Mary's College has won the RSSL Division 1 Netball title for the ninth consecutive year. In a thrilling final, St Mary's College edged out Tawa in extra time, with a final score of 37-35. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Tawa rallying in the second quarter and St Mary's making a comeback in the fourth to force extra time.
St Mary's College started the game strongly, quickly pulling ahead to a 10-5 lead, and they maintained this slight edge, ending the first quarter with a score of 12-9. However, Tawa came back with renewed vigour in the second quarter, harassing St Mary's into making mistakes and unforced errors, which allowed them to level the score.
The third quarter saw St Mary's regain some composure and make a few changes to their tactics, but Tawa remained resilient, and the quarter ended with a tense 35-34 score, with Tawa believing they had secured the title in the dying seconds. However, the goal was disallowed, and the game went into extra time. St Mary's College managed to score two quick goals to secure the championship, breaking the deadlock and retaining their title.
The victory was especially sweet for St Mary's, as two of their leading players, Liana Saipani and Phoenix Schwalger, were unable to play due to injury and recovery standdown, respectively. The team now looks forward to defending their Lower North Island title during Winter Tournament Week, with their sights set on qualifying for the NZSS Nationals in October.
The winning squad for St Mary's College included GS London Sciascia-Taufao, GA Armani Fruean, WA Pippa Cairns, C Te Arani Vulu, WD Teuila Bennis, GD Fo'i Lemana, and GK Nevaeh Latu-Griffith. Their success is a testament to their hard work, resilience, and unwavering belief in themselves, even in the face of adversity.
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St Mary's Gaels wins Rugby National Championship
The Saint Mary's Gaels are the athletic teams that compete at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. The men's rugby team is the oldest athletic club at the school, having been established in 1888. The team plays college rugby in Division 1-A in the California conference.
The Gaels have enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, winning the National Championship four times: in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2024. In 2014, they defeated Life University 21-6 in the D1A final, claiming their first national title. The following year, they successfully defended their title, defeating Life University once again in a closely contested 30-24 match.
In addition to their triumphs in the full 15-player rugby format, the Gaels also excelled in rugby sevens. They won the national championship for rugby sevens in 2016, showcasing their versatility and prowess in both formats of the game.
The Gaels' journey to the 2024 National Championship was filled with thrilling encounters. They defeated Grand Canyon in the first round of the playoffs and then overcame Cal in the quarter-finals, setting up a semi-final clash with the BYU Cougars. On May 4, in an epic battle in Houston, Saint Mary's defeated Navy 26-22 to bring home the Division 1A Trophy once again.
The success of Saint Mary's Gaels can be attributed to their dedicated athletes, skilled coaching staff, and strong alumni support. Their consistent performance has solidified their reputation as one of the elite college rugby programs in the country.
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Xavier Lipscomb pushes Mount St. Mary's to win
Mount St. Mary's graduate guard Xavier Lipscomb has been described as the "heart and soul" of the team by his previous two coaches. And he proved his worth once again by pushing Mount St. Mary's to a win over Manhattan.
Lipscomb's late-game heroics included a crucial triple from the left wing with just over four minutes to play. This came immediately after Will Sydnor, who had an impressive 27 points and 10 rebounds, cut Mount St. Mary's lead to just one point. While Lipscomb's 11-point stat line may not seem remarkable, his plays down the stretch sealed the victory for his team.
Following the game, Lipscomb emphasised the team's value of late-game free throws, stating, "Late-game free throws are something that we value as a team." His passion was evident, as he let out a distinct scream after Melo Pacheco sealed the game at the foul line, leading an official to caution him against doing it again.
The win improved Mount St. Mary's record to 10-5 and 3-1 in the MAAC, showcasing the team's resilience despite the absence of leading scorer Dallas Hobbs for most of the previous month. Lipscomb's performance exemplified his impact on the team, both on and off the court, as he embraced Coach Donny Lind's open-door policy to great success.
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St Mary's wins against Vanderbilt in NCAA Tournament
St Mary's College has had a string of successes in recent times, with their rugby, netball, and basketball teams all achieving notable victories.
The Gaels, St Mary's rugby team, won the National Championship in 2024. In a tightly contested match, they beat Navy 26-22. The Gaels dominated the first half, scoring 21 unanswered points. However, Navy fought back strongly in the second half, and the game hung in the balance until the final whistle.
The St Mary's netball team also tasted success, winning the RSSL Division 1 Netball title in 2024. It was a thrilling final, with the game going into extra time after the scores were locked at 35-35 at the end of regulation time. St Mary's scored the first two goals of extra time to secure a 37-35 victory over Tawa and claim their ninth straight divisional title.
In basketball, the St Mary's guard, Jordan Ross, led a second-half rally as the seventh-seeded Gaels defeated the tenth-seeded Vanderbilt 59-56 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
These achievements showcase the depth and talent across various sports at St Mary's College, with their teams displaying determination, resilience, and a winning mentality.
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Jordan Ross helps St Mary's win against Vanderbilt
St. Mary's guard Jordan Ross was the key to his team's victory over Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, 2025. Ross, who scored 15 points, led a second-half rally while star player Augustas Marciulionis was out with foul trouble. The seventh-seeded Gaels ultimately defeated the 10th-seeded Commodores 59-56.
Marciulionis, a two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year, had to sit out early in the second half after picking up his fourth foul. Ross stepped up in his absence, scoring 10 of his 15 points while Marciulionis was on the bench. This helped the Gaels erase a 12-point deficit and pull even with Vanderbilt.
Ross' 3-pointer from the left corner was crucial, tying the game at 43-43 with 8:27 remaining. The Gaels had been trailing 42-36 at the under-8 timeout, but they began to chip away at Vanderbilt's lead. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with St. Mary's shooting just 35% overall and 16% from 3-point range in the first half.
Marciulionis returned to the game and hit some clutch shots, including a 3-pointer that put the Gaels up 53-50 with 4:32 left. St. Mary's held on to that lead, despite Vanderbilt's attempts to tie the game in the final seconds. The Commodores missed two 3-point tries, allowing the Gaels to advance to the second round of the tournament.
Ross' performance was praised by St. Mary's coach Randy Bennett, who said, "He's kind of funny. He knows when he has to go, and he knew he had to go." The victory set up a second-round matchup with No. 2 Alabama for the Gaels, who were eager to avenge their early exit from the previous year's tournament.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, St. Mary's won the RSSL Division 1 Netball title in 2024.
Yes, St. Mary's won the rugby national championship in 2024.
No, St. Mary's did not win the MAAC. However, they pushed Mount St. Mary's over the line.
Yes, St. Mary's won the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
