Men's rugby started its spring schedule with a 27-16 win over D1A No. 2 ranked Life University in a Mid-South Conference (MSC) matchup Saturday afternoon at Lupo Family Field in Marietta, Georgia.  Fly half Evan Williams scored 17 points, while Shiven Dukhande and Kayleb O'Donoghue each scored a try. 
 
How it Happened 
The Running Eagles started the scoring by converting a penalty kick in the first two minutes of the match to take a 3-0 lead. The Lions answered right back when Life was penalized for not releasing the ball carrier and Evan Williams hit the first of his five penalty kicks to even the score at 3-3.  After trading penalty kicks once again, the Running Eagles took a 9-6 lead with yet another penalty kick at the 19-minute mark. 
 
With the end of the first half nearing, Life lost possession of the ball near midfield and Lindenwood attempted to take advantage, putting together numerous phases to get down to the five-meter line, but a perfectly timed poach allowed the Running Eagles to steal possession.  They kicked the ball out into touch to end the first half still leading 9-6. 
 
The Lions found themselves in a bad position early in the second half.  After taking the restart kick back to midfield, Life found space out wide and took the ball around the corner to score the first try of the game.  With the converted kick, Lindenwood faced a 16-6 deficit on the road, but the Lions fought back. 
 
After another Williams penalty kick, they scored their first try moments later when Nick Hardrict, II took the ball on the edge and executed a perfectly timed offload to the supporting Dukhande to even the score at 16-16 with the ensuing conversion. 
 
With momentum now flipped back to Lindenwood, the attack did a great job of keeping the ball out of their own end and forced the Running Eagles to continually string phases together to move the ball. That style of play led to two more penalty kicks from Williams to give the Lions a 22-16 advantage as the end of the match neared.   
 
With only four minutes left, Williams attempted one final penalty kick to take a two-score lead, but his attempt bounced off of the upright. Life recovered the loose ball and played with a reckless abandon that has served the team well numerous times over the years, but the Running Eagles were foiled this time when a penalty in the scrum halted their attack in the Lions end of the field. 
 
Lindenwood took possession and executed a 50/22 exit and sealed the 27-16 victory when O'Donughue crossed the line off a 10-meter maul.
 
Player/Coach Thoughts: 
Evan Williams: "It is always great to get a win against our rivals, but I was most happy about how we handled ourselves on the field. Staying positive, always focusing on the next job at hand, and putting the team first. If we can maintain that kind of attitude, I'd be happy regardless of what the results show at the end of the season." 
  
Assistant Coach Corey Harmann: "The attitude pre-2021 was always preparing for the match as it was different than any other match. We treated Life as different when really our game plan should not have changed. Now, especially since our boys were able to get their first win here last year, they have changed that mindset and treat it as if it were just another match." 
  
What's Next: 
With the win, the Lions improved to 17-1 overall and 2-0 in the MSC and sit atop the conference standings.  Lindenwood returns to the road for another Mid-South match against Arkansas State February 19.  The opening kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas.   
 
Lindenwood vs. Life Box Score: 
2' Life Penalty Kick 0-3 
5' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Evan Williams 3-3 
9' Life Penalty Kick 3-6 
17' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Evan Williams 6-6 
19' Life Penalty Kick 6-9 
42' Life try 6-14 
43' Life Conversion 6-16 
49' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Evan Williams 9-16 
59' Lindenwood Try Shiven Dukhande 14-16 
59' Conversion Evan Williams 16-16 
61' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Evan Williams 19-16 
63' Lindenwood Penalty Kick Evan Williams 22-16 
80' Lindenwood Try Kayleb O'Donoghue 27-16 
 
Lineup: 
1. Gabriel Kettering – Beorn Graham 63' 
2. Runako Brynard – Kayleb O'Donoghue 58' 
3. Samuel Buckley – Liam Smith 50' 
4. Marnus Spangenberg 
5. Alejandro Martinez Tapia – Eduan van Heerden 50' 
6. Clarence Ekoume-Bienes – Duncan Krige 56' 
7. Cian Darling – Juan Mota Sanchez 70' 
8. Neal Moylett 
9. Evan Conlon – Alejo Gallego Boniello 
10. Evan Williams 
11. Tyren Al-Jiboori – Jake Jacobson 68' 
12. Rhys Smith 
13. Stephen Alberts 
14. Nick Hardrict, II 
15. Shiven Dukhande