The 2025–26 Lindenwood men's rugby campaign launched in emphatic fashion with a triple-header sweep of Indiana University. Both programs fielded three sides in Bloomington, Indiana, setting the stage for a full day of action. The Lions rose to the occasion, securing three commanding victories to start their season with momentum and purpose.

How It Happened
The match was full of Lion fireworks. Indiana native Asher Webb opened the scoring in the 9th minute, converted by Byron Forword, before the Hoosiers briefly leveled at 7–7. From there, the Lions surged. Tries from Malan Graham, Jack McAllister, and Karsten Rice flipped control back to Lindenwood, with super-sub Kieran Holland adding another just two minutes after entering the match. The Lions carried a 40–7 lead into halftime.

The second half featured a backline showcase, highlighted by Graham's clinical hat trick and strong finishes from Sanele Mdingi, David Cathcart, Cameron Schafer, and Jack Johnson. Schafer's powerful try through three defenders and Johnson's late score from a quick tap sealed a 78–7 final margin.

Scoring Summary

• 9' Webb Try (Forword conv) – 0–7
• 16' Indiana Try + Conv – 7–7
• 19' Graham Try – 7–12
• 24' McAllister Try – 7–17
• 25' Forword Conv – 7–19
• 29' Rice Try – 7–24
• 30' Forword Conv – 7–26
• 34' Holland Try – 7–31
• 35' Forword Conv – 7–33
• 40' Rice Try (Forword conv) – 7–40
• 51' Graham Try (Forword conv) – 7–47
• 58' Mdingi Try (Forword conv) – 7–54
• 61' Graham Try – 7–59
• 64' Cathcart Try (Graham conv) – 7–66
• 69' Schafer Try – 7–71
• 78' Johnson Try (Conv) – 7–78

Roster

1. Asher Webb
2. Mark Barbour
3. Luke Schaefer
4. Neil Milczarek
5. David Scanlon (c)
6. Zack McCartney
7. Riley Richardson-Mould
8. Mitch Young
9. Jack McAllister
10. Byron Forword
11. David Cathcart
12. Sanele Mdingi
13. Malan Graham
14. Karsten Rice
15. Kobe Millar
16. Ivan Ingram (56')
17. Cameron Schafer (62')
18. Kieran Holland (32')
19. Cooper O'Malley (56')
20. Jack Johnson (62')
21. Jeremy Zwick (48')
22. William Bentley (59')
23. James Birley (31')

Other Action

Match One
Freshmen Miles Bailey and Justin Spanghero made instant impacts, each scoring twice in a 51–0 shutout that set the tone for the day. Their spark ignited the squad and carried into the next contests.

Match Two
The second fixture showcased Lindenwood's dominance across the field. The forward pack, led by captain Jack Cahill, dictated possession with relentless pressure, while Cole Scharffenorth steered the backline to precision finishes. Indiana had no answers, and the Lions rolled to a 71–3 win.

What's Next
The Lions return home to host Marian University and Kansas on Saturday, September 27. After an explosive opening weekend, they'll look to defend their home turf and keep the momentum rolling