Gaels Surge Past Arizona, Punch Ticket to National Semifinals

Moraga, Calif. —The Saint Mary's Gaels (13-1-0) defeated the University of Arizona Wildcats (10-4-0) in a physical playoff battle, using a clinical attacking stretch late in the first half to take control and punch their ticket to the National Semifinals.

From the opening minutes, the Gaels made their intentions clear: control the ball and dictate the tempo. That approach paid off early when Benjamin Hatch broke through for the game's first try to give Saint Mary's a 7–0 lead. Arizona responded shortly after, capitalizing on a Saint Mary's penalty that left the Gaels shorthanded to even the score at 7–7, but the Gaels' forward pack began to assert itself as the half wore on.

"We knew that they were going to be stronger than the first time we saw them," Colin Donnelly said postgame. "[We didn't want] to give them the ball. If we hold on to it, they can't score." That mindset showed in the Gaels' structured phases and ability to keep play in Arizona's half.

Midway through the first half, Saint Mary's broke the game open. A powerful maul set up a try from Nate Deegan, followed by another well-worked sequence finished by Atelea Tengi, stretching the lead to 21–7. Iosefa Toia'ivao then put up a pair of tries, one off a kick from Dom Besag, and another off a pacey run from the winger, pushing the Gaels' advantage to 31-7 at the half.

Arizona managed to claw one back early in the second half, cutting the deficit to 31–14. A Gael's red card left them shorthanded for the remainder of the match and briefly shifted momentum in favor of the Wildcats, who struck again in the 56th minute to trim the lead and put pressure on the Gaels. Despite being down a man, Saint Mary's responded with composure, tightening their defensive shape and slowing the tempo to regain control. That patience paid off in the 69th minute when Oli Cline broke through for a crucial try, extending the lead and reestablishing breathing room at 38–19 after the conversion. From there, the Gaels began to pull away. Cline added a penalty goal in the 76th minute to push the margin further, before Toia'ivao capped off the performance with a late try in the 78th, sealing the result.

"It was just us versus us," said Iosefa Toiaivao. "We dialed in on the simple things… it was a team effort all around."

That team-first approach was evident across the field, particularly in the forwards' physical dominance and the backline's ability to finish chances. Even as Arizona found moments of success, the Gaels' defensive connectivity limited sustained pressure.

Up Next

The Gaels are headed to Berkeley to face No. 1 seed Cal in the National Semifinals on Saturday.