PHOENIX, AZ – The Grand Canyon University Men's Rugby team delivered a dominant performance in itsfinal home game, crushing Utah Valley University with a resounding 87-0 victory. This impressive win served as a fitting send-off for the team's seven graduating seniors.
The Lopes set the tone early, keeping UVU pinned in their own territory for the first 30 minutes of the game. GCU's offense was relentless, with
Ben Saunders leading the way with three tries and six two-point conversions. Other key scorers for GCU included
Marcus Terzoli, who opened the scoring with a try just six minutes into the match, as well as
Danny Callahan,
Vince McKeefery,
Jackson Gray,
Charlie Marshall, and
Bentley Bleeker, all of whom added tries in the first half. By halftime, the Lopes had built a commanding 41-0 lead.
In the second half, GCU continued their dominance with tries from
Jackson Gray,
Luke Neely,
Aiden Castanonand D.J. Whisenant. Saunders' overall performance was crucial to the team's success, helping to extend the Lopes' lead throughout the game.
The shutout victory was particularly meaningful as the team honored its graduating seniors: Gray, Marshall, Bleeker,
Joshua Brown,
Sean McElligott,
Kenny Pasion and
Sam Wittmer.
With the win, GCU concludes their regular season with a 4-4 record. The team now turns its attention to the USA Rugby D1A National Championships West Final, which it will host on the GCU campus April 19. The Lopes' opponent, venue and kickoff time will be announced closer to the date.
