Bears Punch Ticket To National Championship

BERKELEY – The west region No. 1 California rugby team defeated No. 2 Saint Mary’s Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Witter Rugby Field in the 2025 D1A National Collegiate Championship semifinals to punch its ticket to the title match. The Golden Bears will head to Indianapolis on May 3 to take on east region No. 1 Life University in the national championship.

“We are fortunate to have a team of Saint Mary’s caliber in Northern California,” Cal head coach Jack Clark said. “I am immensely proud of our boys and their captain Charlie Walsh. It was a special Strawberry Canyon day.”

Cal never trailed in the contest, putting points up on the board first in the 11th minute. The Bears worked their way into scoring territory and, after a series of pick-and-jams just a few meters out from the goal-line, senior lock Hugo Schreuder used his wingspan to extend across the line and punch in Cal’s first try. Freshman center Filip Edstrom added the extras to make it 7-0 in favor of the Bears.

A penalty on Cal set up three points for Saint Mary’s off a penalty kick conversion eight minutes later. Cal answered with its second try of the day six minutes after. Junior flyhalf Rand Santos kicked a ball to touch to set up a Cal lineout about five meters from the try-line. The Bears recovered the attacking lineout in the air and sent it to junior scrumhalf Solomon Williams, who connected with senior wing Joe Kirsten at the bottom of the set piece and snuck between the Gael defenders to run in the score. Edstrom added the extras.

The Gaels scored their first try in the 30th minute, with the Bears holding them off for multiple phases before Saint Mary’s finally broke the line and touched down on the left side. The ensuing conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

The Bears were quick to respond, gaining possession after the restart and once again utilizing their strong set piece to construct a score. Cal recovered its attacking lineout and moved it through hands all the way to freshman Masi Koi on the wing, who sped past the final Gael defender to tap down a try in the left corner. Edstrom added the extras to give the Bears a 21-8 lead going into the break.

After the intermission, the Bears struck early to extend their lead. The Gaels caught the kickoff, but Koi got over the ball and forced a turnover to give Cal possession in scoring territory. The Bears strung together a few phases before sending Santos through for a try, with Edstrom converting successfully.

Cal benefitted from its set piece once more, this time converting off an attacking scrum. Williams pulled the ball from the back and offloaded it to Koi on the short side, who ran in his second try of the day in the corner of the tryzone.

Saint Mary’s managed a converted try seven minutes later. Cal got possession after the restart and was playing with the ball in hand in its own territory when Kirsten broke the Gaels’ line and carried it to the 50-meter line before offloading to Williams in support. Williams charged ahead, tucking the ball to his side and out-pacing the last Saint Mary’s defender to carry in a try.

The Gaels scored a pair of tries while Cal played a man-down due to a yellow card infraction to close the gap, but it was not enough to outscore the Bears, who claimed a 38-27 victory in the end.

“It was an awesome day for rugby,” Walsh said. “I’m very proud of our guys, this week was a whole-squad effort and to get this job done is very rewarding. I’m just grateful that this team gets to be together for two more weeks. The national championship is the ultimate opportunity, and we’re grateful we have the chance to compete in two weeks.”

On the other side of the bracket, Life defeated east region No. 3 Lindenwood to clinch a spot in the championship match. The national championship will be held at Kuntz Memorial Stadium.

Scoring Timeline:

Cal vs. Saint Mary’s

11:00 – Hugo Schreuder 5, Filip Edstrom 2

19:00 – Saint Mary’s 3

25:00 – Joe Kirsten 5, Filip Edstrom 2

30:00 – Saint Mary’s 5

33:00 – Masi Koi 5, Filip Edstrom 2

Half: Cal 21, Saint Mary’s 8

42:00 – Rand Santos 5, Filip Edstrom 2

51:00 – Masi Koi 5

58:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2

65:00 – Solomon Williams 5

70:00 – Saint Mary’s 5

80:00 – Saint Mary’s 5, Saint Mary’s 2

Final: Cal 38, Saint Mary’s 27

Starting XV:

1. Oliver Kirk 2. Cade Crist 3. Charlie Walsh 4. Hugo Schreuder 5. Byron Finley 6. Dom Paga 7. Bryan Bogne 8. Ieremia Ieremia 9. Solomon Williams 10. Rand Santos 11. Masi Koi 12. Filip Edstrom 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Joe Kirsten 15. Oliver Newall

Substitutions:

Emmett Cook (49:00), Seamus Deely (59:00), J.P. Vinter (Blood Substitution)