MORAGA, Calif. -- When USA Rugby decided that it would hold the 2014 National Championship game at Stanford's Steuber Rugby Stadium, it couldn't have foreseen the role that choice would play in the telling and re-telling of a story that will live forever at Saint Mary's.
Little did the organization know that's the part of the story that won't ever wane when those in attendance recount what it was like to watch the Gaels defeat Life University 21-6 to capture their first national rugby title. Whether it was the fans who had followed Saint Mary's rugby for years, fellow students who came to support their friends or just Gael alums who wanted to show pride in their school, nobody in attendance that day will forget what it meant to be crowned best in the land.
The story of the 2014 Saint Mary's rugby team began far before that day in early May, but the season's final win certainly provided the fairly tale ending that accompanies many a good tale. Squaring off with a Life side that had all season been counted among SMC's primary challengers for the title, the Gaels fell behind 3-0 on an early penalty kick by the Eagles. Dylan Audsley converted a penalty kick for Saint Mary's but another by Life put the Eagles up 6-3 at halftime.
That was all the scoring Life would be allowed. Cooper Maloney's epic run for a try put the Gaels ahead 8-6, and Audsley added another penalty kick to make it 11-6. Audsley's powerful foot made another mark shortly thereafter, converting a 40-meter kick to push the score to 14-6. Alec Barton finished the scoring by recovering a loose ball in the try zone and Saint Mary's had its 21-6 victory in front of a partisan crowd clad mostly in blue and red.
Maloney was awarded game MVP honors and the celebration lasted well after action had ended. For the players who had toiled all season to ascend to No. 1 in the nation, the moment provided the best ending possible to a magical season. The Gaels would later earn the No. 1 ranking in RugbyMag.com's season-ending poll, cementing their status as the top team in the country.
"All year long, it doesn't matter who we are or what year we are, we all play together and it shows out on the field," wing Nick Schlobohm told RugbyMag.com after the game. "It's all about communication and we played together as a unit."
