Gaels Fall to Golden Bears in Semifinal Round
By AJ Clement '26 I Club Sports Writer
Berkeley, California — The Saint Mary's Gaels (13-2-0) saw their season come to an end on Saturday afternoon, falling 59-19 to the Cal Golden Bears (12-0-0) in the semifinal round. Despite a competitive opening stretch and moments of resilience throughout the match, sustained pressure from Cal and costly errors proved too much for the Gaels to overcome as the Golden Bears advanced to the championship.
Saint Mary's opened the match with good energy and initially matched Cal's physicality, but momentum shifted early following discipline issues. A fifth-minute penalty try combined with a yellow card gave Cal a 7-0 lead before the Gaels responded quickly. After forcing a Cal mistake, Benjamin Hatch crossed for Saint Mary's first try in the ninth minute to level the score at 7-7. The Golden Bears reclaimed the lead with a try in the 13th minute and continued to capitalize on Saint Mary's mistakes. Another yellow card in the 22nd minute allowed Cal to build further momentum as the Bears added 3 more tries to carry a 33-7 advantage into halftime.
The Gaels struggled to establish consistent offensive rhythm throughout the contest, with several promising attacking phases ending in knock-ons or turnovers. A lengthy Saint Mary's sequence late in the first half reached within three meters of the try line before a ball handling error halted the opportunity.
Cal extended its lead shortly after halftime, but the Gaels continued to battle. Atelea Tengi answered with a try in the 51st minute to give Saint Mary's a spark, while Brian McKeon added a late score as the Gaels continued fighting through the final whistle. However, Cal's depth, possession control, and sustained attacking pressure allowed the hosts to continue adding points and secure the 59-19 result.
The loss brings an end to a strong season for Saint Mary's, which finished with a 13-2-0 record and another deep postseason run. The Gaels consistently showed resilience and growth throughout the year, establishing themselves as one of the top programs in the country while advancing to the semifinal stage.
What's Next
Although the Gaels are done with competition for the season, the program is hosting a summer camp at the end of June. Check back here for more information, including dates, times, and registration.