The Lindenwood men's rugby team opened their season in commanding fashion this past weekend, traveling to Iowa for their annual clash against Iowa Central Community College. The Lions fielded two strong sides, both delivering emphatic victories. The first team set the tone early with a decisive 74–0 win, while the second team followed up with an equally impressive 76–15 triumph. These performances provide a strong foundation for the Lions as they charge into the heart of their season.

How It Happened:
Both wins were the result of relentless effort and cohesive team play. In the opening match, Maximus Orefice led the charge with two first-half tries, showcasing his strength on both offense and defense. Alongside Jaydyn Bartels, the duo anchored a defensive front that proved nearly impenetrable.

Baptiste Esperon commanded the attack with poise, orchestrating the offense and keeping the tempo high throughout the match. Despite Lindenwood's dominance, Iowa Central's physical defense made every point hard-earned. At halftime, the Lions held a 29–0 lead after a bruising 40 minutes.

The second half began as a defensive battle, with neither side scoring for 15 minutes. The deadlock was broken when Jack Johnson powered through Iowa's defense to reignite momentum for the Lions. Off the bench, Cole Scharffenorth provided a surge of energy, notching two tries to further extend Lindenwood's lead. Nayan Sirwani Villanueva added to the offensive showcase by converting five of seven second half tries.

By the final whistle, the Lions stood tall with a convincing victory—a testament to the squad's hard work, resilience, and depth across all 23 players.

In Other Action:
Following the first team's performance, the second side took the field eager to continue Lindenwood's dominance. Iowa Central struck first with a try off the opening kickoff, but the Lions quickly responded. The first half featured a tight contest, ending 15–17 in favor of Lindenwood.

After halftime, the Lions surged ahead with renewed intensity. Captain Ryan Keenan led from the front, driving the backline forward with precision and composure. Contributions from Moses Ratnage and Justin Spanghero on both sides of the ball helped secure the 76–15 final score, capping off an outstanding day of rugby for the program.

What's Next:
Next week, the Lions will take on the Royal Ramblers, a local men's club side with deep ties to the Lindenwood program. The matchup will feature current players and alumni, offering a great opportunity for the Lions to test their skills against experienced competition in what promises to be an exciting clash between the young Lions and the seasoned Ramblers. Scoring Summary: 4' Lindenwood Try, Owen Peel; 0-5
8' Lindenwood Try, Eli Baumann; 0-10
14:30' Lindenwood Try, Maximus Orefice; 0-15
15:50' Lindenwood Conversion, Baptiste Esperon; 0-17
27:30' Lindenwood Try, Maximus Orefice; 0-22
28' Lindenwood Conversion, Baptiste Esperon; 0-24
35:30' Lindenwood Try, William Bentley;0-29
54:30' Lindenwood Try, Jack Johnson; 0-34
55:30' Lindenwood Conversion, Nayan Sirwani Villanueva; 0-36
57' Lindenwood Try, Pablo Romero; 0-41
58' Lindenwood Conversion, Nayan Sirwani Villanueva; 0-43
60:30' Lindenwood Try, Cole Scharffenorth, 0-48
61' Lindenwood Conversion, Nayan Sirwani Villanueva; 0-50
67' Lindenwood Try, Eli Baumann; 0-55
75' Lindenwood Try, Cole Scharffenorth, 0-60
78:30' Lindenwood Try, Michael Daly; 0-65
79:30 Lindenwood Conversion, Nayan Sirwani Villanueva; 0-67
40' Lindenwood Try, Pablo Romero; 0-72
40' Lindenwood Conversion, Nayan Sirwani Villanueva; 0-74


Roster
1 Alden Bordallo
2 Jaydyn Bartels
3 Lachie Foster
4 Michael Daly
5 Owen Peel
6 Jack Johnson
7 Maximus Orefice
8 Louis Woods
9 Nayan Sirwani Villanueva
10 Baptiste Esperon
11 Eli Baumann
12 William Bentley
13 Vicente Villela
14 Pablo Romero
15 Tyresse Prescod
16 Caleb Murphy
17 Carter Breneman
18 Zay Amaro
19 Jacob Racine
20 Caden Howe
21 Jack Cahill
22 Cole Scharffenorth