SHU X-Men Capture Home Title at Peter DeSalvo Memorial Tournament
After opening the spring season with back-to-back tournament victories, the Sacred Heart University men's rugby team—the X-Men—continued their dominant run by winning their third straight tournament, this time on their home field.
Sacred Heart hosted the Peter DeSalvo Memorial Tournament at Park Avenue Field on a beautiful Sunday sunny afternoon with temperatures in the low 50s. The event holds special meaning for the SHU rugby community, as the tournament is named in honor of former player Peter DeSalvo, who tragically lost his life.
In addition to the rugby action, the team organized a t-shirt fundraiser, gift basket raffle, and donation drive, with all proceeds benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Peter's honor.
The program would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the X-men alumni, parents and families who traveled to support the team throughout the tournament, as well as the SHU rugby parents who helped organize and provide hospitality after the matches. Their efforts in feeding the team and welcoming anyone who stayed through the end of the tournament were greatly appreciated and are a true example of the family atmosphere that surrounds the X-Men rugby program.

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A Moment Bigger Than Rugby
Following the first two matches of the day, all teams, coaches, referees, and members of the Sacred Heart administration gathered at midfield for a brief ceremony honoring Peter and recognizing the importance of supporting one another both on and off the field.
Among those attending were Dr. John Petillo, president of Sacred Heart University, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students Denise Tiberio, and Executive Director of Campus Life Ray Mencio.
Head Coach Gennaro Gelsi opened the ceremony by thanking everyone for attending and emphasizing the strength of the rugby community.
Men's Rugby Club President Tomás Ferreira then spoke about the meaning behind the tournament's name and encouraged players to reflect on teammates, friends, and members of the rugby community they may have lost.
Next, Charles Truicko, who led the fundraising efforts through the t-shirt sales and raffle baskets, thanked everyone for their support and reminded players that they are never alone.
The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence, followed by a loud "1, 2, 3 — RUGBY!" cheer from the entire group—a powerful reminder of the culture and brotherhood that defines the sport.

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X-Men Open Strong
After winning tournaments at Curry College and Central Connecticut State earlier in the season, the X-Men entered their home tournament determined to continue their momentum—especially after finishing as runners-up in this event the previous year.
Coach Gelsi made it clear to the team that nothing would be handed to them.
Their opening match came against a new opponent for the program, UNE, and the X-Men wasted little time setting the tone.
Senior Cody Kelsey, playing his final match on his home field, opened the scoring just 1:10 after kickoff, breaking through the defensive line for the first try of the day.
Matthew Badia followed moments later with another score as Sacred Heart applied pressure across every phase of the game. Michael Mulray and Badia each added tries before halftime, while Nicholas Bosticco converted three kicks to give SHU a commanding 26–0 halftime lead.
UNE tightened up defensively in the second half, but Bosticco added another try before UNE managed a late score. Sacred Heart opened the tournament with a 33–5 victory.

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Offensive Explosion Against JWU
In their second match, the X-Men faced another new opponent in Johnson & Wales University.
Sacred Heart once again came out firing. Strong physical play at the breakdown, sharp set pieces, and disciplined defense kept JWU on the back foot throughout the match.
William Gibson led the scoring with two tries, while Cody Kelsey, Michael Agate, Nicholas Bosticco, and Matthew Badia each added one. Bosticco converted five of six kicks to power the X-Men to a convincing 40–7 victory.

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Semifinal Showdown with CCSU
The semifinal round brought a familiar opponent as Sacred Heart faced Central Connecticut State University, a team they had already seen earlier in the season.
Before the match, team leaders delivered an emotional message in the huddle, reminding everyone what they were playing for. Coach Gelsi echoed that message with a simple instruction:
"We need to be physical from the first hit."
The X-Men answered the call.
Captain for the tournament Tomás Ferreira powered through multiple defenders to score two early tries and give Sacred Heart control of the game. Michael Mulray added another score before halftime as SHU built a 21–0 lead.
The second half saw tries from Michael Agate and Marcello Oliva, while CCSU managed two scores of their own after some strong runs and defensive pressure. However, Sacred Heart remained firmly in control, securing a 31–12 victory and advancing to the championship match.

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Championship Victory
In the other semifinal, Keene State defeated UNE in a hard-fought match to set up a championship showdown against Sacred Heart.
It marked the first meeting between the X-Men and Keene State in recent years, giving both teams an opportunity to test themselves against a new opponent.
Keene State struck first, scoring just 38 seconds into the match with a run around the edge to take a 7–0 lead.
But the X-Men responded immediately.
Off the kickoff, Sacred Heart moved the ball quickly and created a two-on-one opportunity that allowed Nicholas Bosticco to sprint past the defense and tie the match.
From there, the X-Men took control.
Before halftime, tries from William Gibson, Marcello Oliva, and Michael Agate, along with two conversions from Bosticco, gave Sacred Heart a comfortable 24-7 lead.
Coach Gelsi's halftime message was simple:
"This is our tournament. We don't slow down now."
The X-Men responded with three more tries in the second half. Matthew Badia added two scores, while Agate crossed once more to seal the match.
When the final whistle blew, Sacred Heart secured a 43–12 championship victory, claiming their third consecutive tournament title.

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Special Moments on the Day
The tournament also featured several memorable moments beyond the championship.
Sacred Heart fielded a mixed team, joined by players from Keene State, giving newer athletes an opportunity to gain valuable playing time.
Among the highlights were tries by Charles Truicko and Xavier Moore, as well as Antonio "Tony" Aspras recording the first try of his rugby career, a moment celebrated by teammates across the field.

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By the Numbers
The X-Men's dominance throughout the tournament was evident on both sides of the ball. Sacred Heart's offense produced 149 points, while the defense allowed just 36 points across the day.
Leading the scoring efforts were:

• Matthew Badia: 5 tries
• Michael Agate: 4 tries
• Nicholas Bosticco: 3 tries, 17 conversions
• William Gibson: 3 tries
• Michael Mulray: 2 tries
• Tomás Ferreira: 2 tries
• Marcello Oliva: 2 tries

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X-Men Rugby Family
While the scoring totals highlight several standout performances, the victory was the result of a complete team effort. The coaches, Gennaro Gelsi, Jason Rizzetta and Jeff Adintori emphasized the dedication, hard work, and commitment shown by every member of the program throughout the season.
The X-Men roster includes:
Michael Agate, Antonios Aspras, Matthew Badia, John Barkley, Nicholas Bosticco, Thomas Ferreira, Gabriel Figueroa, William Gibson, Sean Irving, Cody Kelsey, David Lazowski, Sean McCarry, Xavier Moore, Michael Mulray, James Nolan, Marcello Oliva, Brandon Prush, Ethan Roberts, Colin Roden, Nicholas Stemas, Jeremy Suhr, Ryan Thielen, Charles Truicko, and Stephen Palermo.
The program would like to give a special shoutout to the entire roster for their hard work, commitment, and dedication to the X-Men rugby family.

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Building Momentum Toward Beast of the East
With victories at Curry College, Central Connecticut State, and now the Peter DeSalvo Memorial Tournament on their home field, the X-Men have completed a remarkable three-tournament run to open the spring season. The team has shown consistency, depth, and resilience throughout the stretch, improving with each outing while maintaining a strong defensive presence and explosive attack.
Just as important as the results has been the culture surrounding the program. The Peter DeSalvo Memorial Tournament served as a reminder that the Sacred Heart rugby program is about more than wins and losses—it's about community, brotherhood, and supporting one another both on and off the field.
The X-Men will now turn their focus to their final week of practice before traveling to Rhode Island for the two-day Beast of the East Tournament, one of the premier collegiate rugby events in the region.
The tournament will also mark the final collegiate matches for the team's seniors, making the weekend especially meaningful for the program. After helping lead the X-Men to three straight tournament victories, the seniors will look to finish their Sacred Heart careers the same way they've played all season—with pride, toughness, and the spirit that defines the X-Men rugby family.
With momentum on their side and the support of the entire program behind them, the X-Men head into Beast of the East ready for the challenge.