ALFRED, NY -- The Alfred University men's rugby team opened its fall season with a record-setting win over Colgate University 57-33. It's the highest-scoring match in AU history, and the first 15s win in program history in its second season.

"It was great getting the first 15s win in program history," Head Coach Dale Russell said. "There were a ton of great performances today. I also want to give a shout out to the seven first-years who started today."

The Saxons (1-0, 1-0 LERC) had five different players score tries in the match, jumping ahead early. Zachary Cuddy (Whitman, MA/South Shore Vocational Technical) had two tries in his first collegiate match. Cuddy also converted seven times. Shamar Imang (Paramaribo, Suriname/Ewald P. Meyer Lyceum) completed the same feat of two tries in a successful Saturday afternoon.

"As a first year playing rugby for the first time, it was tough," Imang said. "We showed that hard work pays off and in the end, we had fun!"

Two more tries came from both Chevon Adriaans (Paramiribo, Suriname/SGS) and Ayomideji Israel-Akinbo (Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa/St. Andrews College). Colgate tied it up in the second half to make things interesting, but the two led Alfred University to the big win in the end. 

The second year in program history could not have gotten off to a better start for the Saxons. Under the phenomenal leadership of Russell, it shows. Saturday's contest was the 50th win in 15s coaching history for Russell.

He and the rest of the squad will look for a similar effort in the first road match of the season. It will come against SUNY Brockport on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 a.m.