MURFREESBORO, TN - The Principia College Thunder Chickens rugby team participated in the Mooseman 7s Tournament last weekend, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University. Principia walked away with the championship and an automatic bid to the National Collegiate Rugby Championships over Memorial Day weekend in New Orleans!
The tournament comprised of two pools of five teams each, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the semifinals. The Thunder Chickens opened pool play with a 19-17 loss to the University of Memphis on a muddy field. Memphis scored first, with the two teams trading tries. Principia took the lead with two minutes to go, but then lost possession off an errant pass at their 22 meter line with just seconds left. Memphis was able to convert the turnover to a try to win the game as time expired.
Principia's second game was against conference rival SLU. The Thunder Chickens scored early and kept the lead the entire game, winning 28-7. Principia's third game was against a depleted Vanderbilt side, which Principia won 43-0. Southern Indiana University, struggling with injuries, forfeited the final pool game. The Thunder Chickens ended opening play with a record of 3-1 and second place in their pool behind Memphis.
Principia's semifinal match was against the winner of the other pool, Christendom College, who won the 2021 Men's NCR Small College 15s championship. Principia scored the opening try two minutes into the game after Dammy Odunuga stole a ball from a counter ruck. Principia was able to distribute the ball wide, where pass-and-support play between captain Sjaen Lucas, Bradley Mayekiso, and Celino Petersen allowed Lucas to penetrate Christendom's defense and score. The Thunder Chickens' next try was awarded as a penalty try when Mayekiso recovered the ball off a 22-meter drop out, beat several defenders, and took a high tackle just meters from the goal line. A penalty kick that went short due to the wind led to Principia's third try, when Petersen recovered it and sped down the field just inside the touch line for the try, putting Principia up 19-0 at the half. A try for each team in the second half made the final score 26-5 in favor of the Thunder Chickens.
The championship game was a rematch against the University of Memphis, who had defeated Xavier in their pool semifinal match. Principia received the opening kickoff, and the two teams traded possession inside Memphis' half of the field. Soon, the Thunder Chickens were able to defensively pressure Memphis on a scrum at their own 5-meter line, and Odunuga recovered a loose ball for the try. Memphis threatened Principia on their next possession, but Mayekiso recovered a ball from a defensive scrum, and two phases later, Jack Beckett took at pick and go off of a scrum for a try. Principia kept the pressure on the rest of the match for the decisive shutout, winning 26-0 to earn the early bid to Nationals!
Four Thunder Chickens joined other teams low on numbers. Grant Clifford and Charley Hoffman joined Vanderbilt University, while Paul Farson and Cooper Holt joined University of Memphis' second team.
Up Next: The Thunder Chickens will travel to St. Louis to play in the Lindenwood 7s at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO on Saturday, April 2nd. Principia kicks off their first game at 9:00 am against the University of Colorado.
