Scrumhalf pass: Will Lhommedieu ’26 finds a teammate during the Men's Rugby match at Saint Mary's Stadium on Saturday, November 22. / Photo by Rebecca Harper

Gaels Hold Gauchos Scoreless in Commanding 118–0 Win

Saint Mary’s Men’s Rugby begins the season 3–0 and reinforces their status as one of the most dominant sides in the nation.

by AJ Clement ’26, Club Sports Writer | November 24, 2025

Saint Mary’s Men’s Rugby (3-0-0) is off to a hot start: They logged their third decisive victory to start the season, defeating UC Santa Barbara (0-1-1) by 118-0 at Saint Mary’s Stadium on November 22. The emphatic win on Saturday afternoon marks the Gaels’ largest margin of victory this year and reinforces their status as one of the nation’s most dominant sides. Building on a strong foundation under Head Coach Tim O’Brien, Saint Mary’s continues to showcase a balanced, disciplined approach on both sides of the ball.

Sosia Pongi passing the ball to Santi Ix-Siu — Rugby pass: Senior **Sosaia Pongi ’26** finds Junior **Molitika Ix-Siu** **’27** during the home match against UC Santa Barbara. */ Photo by Rebecca Harper*

The first half was an offensive showcase for the Gaels, who opened the scoring with a Joseph Manzone ’27 try just after the two-minute mark, followed by tries from Atelea Tengei ’27 and Iosefa Toia’ivao ’26. Saint Mary’s continued to move the ball efficiently, stretching the Gauchos’ defensive line and finding space to break through and score on the wings.

The Gauchos showed a few glimmers of hope as they tried to carry the ball into the Gaels’ half, but a stout Gaels defense kept them at bay. A pair of Gauchos kickoffs out of bounds late in the half invited the Gaels to keep scoring, bringing the tally to 68–0 after 40 minutes.

Atelea Tengi — Tackling a Gaucho: **Atelea Tengei ’28** finds the offensive player and brings him down. / Photo by Rebecca Harper

While the second half was not as high-scoring as the first, Saint Mary’s continued to control the game’s pace while rotating through their bench. The Gaels’ defense was put to its first major test in the 67th minute as a penalty gave the Gauchos a lineout 12 meters from the try line. Despite a dangerous run from the fly-half, the Gaels thwarted the attempt and answered immediately with two successive Christian Calero ’29 tries to keep up the offensive pace, as Saint Mary’s rode out the remaining minutes to secure a commanding 118–0 victory.

Christian Collero — Dive for the try: First-year player **Christian Calero ’29** scores against UC Santa Barbara. */ Photo by Rebecca Harper*

Teams continue to struggle against the Gaels in the early season, who recorded their first shutout of the season with the victory over the Gauchos. The Gaels’ defense has been nearly impenetrable, having only allowed 8 points across their first three matches. Led by a dominant forward pack anchored by captain Matthew Abbes ’26, the Saint Mary’s fronts consistently win the gain line and set the tone for defensive effort with their physical presence.

Lineout: Captain **Matthew Abbes ’26** receives the ball. */ Photo by Rebecca Harper*

On the other side of the ball, the Gaels’ offense has been equally commanding. Saint Mary’s has tallied 266 points in their first three games, averaging almost 90 pts per game. Right wing Siale Ofa ’28 continues to be one of the team’s most dangerous finishers, scoring seven tries through three contests. Iosefa Toia’ivao ’26 has been equally impressive on the left, with five tries and 19 conversions, giving the Gaels pace and accuracy on the edges. Outside center Atelea Tengei ’27 has showcased his skill, with five tries of his own, and providing dangerous line-breaking ability in the midfield. Together, this trio has powered the offensive engine needed for the Gaels’ success as the season progresses.