SHU Men's Rugby Team Captures Back-to-Back Titles with Gritty Win at Central Connecticut 7s
Fresh off their championship performance at the Curry College 7s, the Sacred Heart University men's rugby team—the X-Men—returned to action just one week later on March 28, traveling to Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut. Battling brisk early-spring temperatures under sunny skies, six teams gathered for another competitive day of 7s rugby.
Carrying momentum and confidence from their previous outing, the X-Men once again proved they were the team to beat.
Fast Start Against the Hosts
Sacred Heart opened the tournament against host Central Connecticut State and immediately picked up where they left off. Applying relentless pressure from the opening whistle, the X-Men set the tone early.
Matthew Badia led the charge, crossing the try line twice within the first three minutes.
Nicholas Bosticco added another try before halftime, giving SHU a commanding 15–0 lead at the break.
The second half saw no let-up. Just 36 seconds in,
Nicholas Stemas turned the edge and raced downfield for another try.
James Nolan capped off the dominant performance with a powerful run into the try zone. With Bosticco converting two kicks, Sacred Heart secured a convincing 29–0 shutout victory.
Hard-Fought Rematch with Bridgewater State
In their second pool match, the X-Men faced a familiar opponent in Bridgewater State University (BSU), who were eager for redemption after their narrow loss the previous week at Curry College.
BSU struck first with a quick run around the outside to take an early 5–0 lead. Much of the first half was played in Sacred Heart territory as Bridgewater State applied steady offensive pressure, looking to break through the X-Men's defensive line. Sacred Heart's momentum was repeatedly halted by penalties, making it difficult for the team to establish their attack.
Late in the half, however, the X-Men forced a key turnover to stop the pressure and headed into halftime trailing 5–0.
During the break, the team regrouped. Encouraged by their upperclassmen and taking a few moments to reset and refocus, the X-Men returned to the field determined to turn the game around.
To start the second half,
Nicholas Bosticco launched a high kickoff that
William Gibson aggressively challenged in the air. Sacred Heart regained possession and immediately went on the attack. Crisp ball movement and strong support play shifted momentum, and
Matthew Badia eventually broke through to score a try. Bosticco added the conversion, giving SHU a 7–5 lead.
The match remained intensely physical, with both teams refusing to concede ground. Midway through the second half, Gibson added another crucial try to extend the X-Men's lead to 12–5.
BSU continued to battle and, in the closing minutes, managed to break through for a try and successful conversion to tie the match at 12–12. Despite the draw, both teams advanced to the knockout stage.
Semifinal Statement Over Quinnipiac
Facing the Quinnipiac Bobcats in the semifinals, the X-Men delivered another strong performance with a spot in the championship on the line.
Michael Mulray opened the scoring with a dynamic run through the defense, finishing a fast-paced attack to put Sacred Heart on the board.
Nicholas Bosticco added the conversion to extend the lead.
Nicholas Stemas then crossed for his second try of the day, breaking through defenders with a powerful stiff arm to push the score to 14–0.
Quinnipiac responded with two tries of their own, applying pressure and narrowing the margin to 14–10. However, the X-Men remained composed. With strong defensive pressure, Sacred Heart forced a turnover in contact, and
James Nolan capitalized, powering over the try line to extend the lead in the closing moments.
With Bosticco converting the score, Sacred Heart sealed a 21–10 victory and earned a return trip to the championship final.
Championship Grit in Rematch with BSU
The final set up a highly anticipated rematch against Bridgewater State University, with the tournament title on the line. Both teams came out aggressive, fully aware of what was at stake.
Sacred Heart struck first when
William Gibson sprinted through the defense just 35 seconds into the match to score the opening try. Bosticco's conversion gave the X-Men an early 7–0 advantage. The remainder of the first half turned into a defensive battle, with both teams trading possession and heavy tackles.
BSU eventually broke through for a try but missed the conversion, leaving Sacred Heart ahead 7–5 at halftime.
With players battered and fatigued after two consecutive weekends of competition—nine matches in total—the X-Men leaned on resilience and leadership. Head coach Gennaro Gelsi delivered a powerful halftime message, emphasizing willpower, heart, and teamwork. Injured teammate
Stephen Palermo helped energize the huddle, rallying the squad with an X-Men chant before they returned to the field.
Sacred Heart responded immediately in the second half. Bosticco broke through the defense to score under the posts and then converted his own try, extending the lead to 14–5.
The teams battled back and forth until BSU managed to break through again, narrowing the score to 14–10.
Knowing they needed to respond quickly, the X-Men executed exactly what they had practiced all season. As Coach Gelsi shouted "Attack!" from the sideline during the restart, Sacred Heart aggressively pressured the kickoff. The team successfully created a two-on-one opportunity, allowing Mulray—playing through a bloody nose—to burst through a gap with defenders chasing and race in for another try.
Bosticco added the conversion to extend the lead to 21–10.
BSU refused to quit and managed to score a try at the final whistle, but the X-Men held firm. When the match ended, Sacred Heart secured a hard-fought 21–15 victory, claiming their second consecutive tournament championship.
By the Numbers
The X-Men continued their impressive form on both sides of the ball, scoring
83 points while allowing just
32 across the tournament.
Top contributors included:
Looking Ahead
With back-to-back tournament victories to open the spring season, the X-Men have firmly established themselves as a top contender.
The team will now take two weeks to recover and prepare for their
home tournament on April 12 at Park Avenue Field.
Riding a wave of momentum, depth, and determination, Sacred Heart looks poised to continue its dominant run—this time in front of a home crowd.
