A young men's rugby side held off Southern Nazarene University 29-25 Saturday afternoon at the SNU Rugby Pitch in Bethany, Oklahoma. Five different Lions scored tries, and Baptiste Esperon converted two of them to secure the road win.

How it Happened:
Southern Nazarene struck first, taking a 3-0 lead on a penalty kick in the 11th minute. Lindenwood answered in the 22nd minute when Luke White broke the line and finished under the posts, but the conversion was missed, leaving the Lions ahead 5-3. SNU regained the lead a few minutes later. The SNU scrum-half broke the line on the edge and scored, and the conversion made it 10-5.

The momentum shifted after SNU was shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute. Ed Critchley scored for Lindenwood just 25 seconds later to level the match at 10-10. Pablo Romero then broke through for a try just before halftime, and Esperon converted to send the Lions into the break ahead 17-10 after 12 unanswered points.

SNU opened the second half with a penalty kick, cutting the lead to 17-13. SNU then took its first lead of the day early in the half, scoring a try that made it 18-17 after a missed conversion. Lindenwood replied in the 54th minute. Reserve Kirk drove over from a maul, and Esperon's conversion put the Lions back in front, 24-18.

SNU answered with a converted try to move ahead 25-24. Jean Baptiste Perisse then scored for Lindenwood late in the second half. The conversion missed, but the try put the Lions in front for good at 29-25.

Lindenwood scored five tries to SNU's three. The Lions' tries came from a mix of line breaks and a maul, and each was scored by a different player.

"Our team checked some really valuable boxes on this trip. We deepened our connection in our campus community by traveling with the women's team, welcomed a bunch of new Lions into Lindenwood game day and travel traditions, and strengthened another great regional rivalry. Now that we've cast the data points, the players must decide their individual trajectories from here," said Head Coach Josh Macy.

What's Next?
Lindenwood travels to McNair Park in St Charles, to face the Royal Ramblers on Saturday, September 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Try Summary:
First half, in scoring order:

• SNU: Penalty kick
• Lindenwood: Luke White
• SNU: Try and conversion
• Lindenwood: Ed Critchley
• Lindenwood: Pablo Romero (with conversion)

Second half, in scoring order:

• SNU: Penalty kick
• SNU: Try
• Lindenwood: Kirk (with conversion)
• SNU: Try and conversion
• Lindenwood: Jean Baptiste Perisse

Lineup:

1. Alden Bordello
2. Jaydyn Bartels (Captain)
3. Sam Enochian
4. Joe Davies
5. Jacob Racine
6. Moses Ratnage
7. Vincent Graham
8. Ed Critchley
9. Charlie Kirpatrick
10. Baptiste Esperon
11. Jean Baptiste Perisse
12. Aiden Kalmar
13. Afu Liufau
14. Pablo Romero
15. Luke White

Reserves:

16. Oryx Kirk
17. Seth Tali
18. Thomas Peach
19. Laurie Thomson
20. Owen Black
21. Pierre-Luis Silva-Romefort
22. Marcus Robinson
23. Hassan Lin