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NMT alumni compete in Los Santos v Brujos rugby match
Published
The New Mexico Tech rugby teams haven’t quite started their season yet, but several Tech alumni were out on the Tech field for a game this past Saturday, Feb. 7. The Los Santos rugby club out of Santa Fe took on the New Mexico Brujos, from Albuquerque, in a 15’s match with lots of NMT connections.
“In a high-stakes clash at home in Socorro, the Santa Fe Santos overcame a three-tries-to-one deficit to snatch a late lead against the Albuquerque Brujos. The match featured a heavy presence of New Mexico Tech alumni on both rosters, adding a layer of fierce collegiate rivalry to every bone-rattling tackle,” Dylan Merrigan, Los Santos player and NMT alum, said.
Los Santos had seven Tech alumni on the field that day: Isaiah Sanchez, Dane Roberts, Elijah Naranjo, Milaan Van Wyk, Gabe Beltran, Dylan Merrigan and Jaime Taraza. The Brujos had two NMT alumni playing as well: Tommy Diaz (2021 grad) and Tanner Graham (2018).
“I believe it was a game played in great spirits. Both teams came out strong and it was a game that went back and forth,” Milaan Van Wyk, Los Santos player and NMT women’s team coach, said.
Brujos struck first with a try at about 18 minutes into the game, and then scored again about five minutes later. Los Santos answered with a try for five points, plus two more points on a Van Wyk kick. However, the Brujos scored just moments before halftime to extend their lead.
Brujos came out strong with another try a few minutes into the second half and they were up 22-7. The Santa Fe team found some momentum with a try and two more points at 10 minutes in. Santa Fe went on to score two more tries, and the intensity of the game really picked up.
The Brujos finally answered by scoring with only about six minutes left to play, but they were still behind 28-27 as Van Wyk had made all of his kicks for Los Santos while Brujos had missed most of their 2-point kicks.
“Just as a Santos victory seemed certain, the Brujos orchestrated a clinical final-minute drive to score under the posts and steal the win. The heartbreaking finish left the Socorro crowd silent as the alumni from both sides shared a bittersweet embrace on the pitch where many of them first learned the game,” Merrigan said.
The New Mexico Brujos won it 32-28 by scoring on the final play of the game.
The Santa Fe Santos and New Mexico Brujos both play in Division III of the Southwest Rugby Union. While they play against a team out of El Paso and several from Arizona in their division, they often see each other as their toughest competition. Los Santos are now 2-1, having played a few games in the fall, and the Brujos have just started their season and are 1-0.
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"It was a good match just to break the dust off,” Diaz of the Brujos said.
Not just shake it off, but break it off rugby style. They played hard, hit hard and talked trash, but they left it all on the field, shaking hands at the end…until the next time they face each other.
“The match was very heated with trash talk from both sides. Each team featured alumni from NM Tech (me included) so there was some pride involved on who really owns the pitch. Props to the Santos, they played hard. The rematch on March 28 will be a must watch,” Graham said.
That March 28 game will be a home game in Albuquerque for the Brujos. This Feb. 7 game was meant to be a home game for Santa Fe, but their fields are currently closed. Instead, these two teams and the former Techies brought their game down to Socorro for an audience of current Tech rugby players, who are preparing for their first 7’s games of the year.
New Mexico Tech rugby’s upcoming games
The NMT rugby teams have been practicing for weeks and start their spring season this month. The men start this Saturday, Feb. 14, in Albuquerque. Then both the men’s and the women’s teams will be competing the following weekend here in Socorro.
NMT men’s rugby schedule for 7’s, times TBA:
Feb. 14: Motley Games at Bullhead Park in Albuquerque.
Feb. 21: Zia 7’s at the NMT Athletic Field.
Feb. 28: Yellow Rose 7’s at Cullen Park in Houston, Texas.
March 14: Battle of the Rio Grande 7’s at the NMT Athletic Field.
March 28: Conchas 7’s in El Paso, Texas.
April 4: High Peaks 7’s at the NMT Athletic Field.
April 11: Tornado Alley 7’s at the OU Rugby Pitch in Norman, OK.
April 24: National Collegiate Rugby Championships in Maryland.
NMT women’s rugby schedule for 7’s, times TBA:
Feb. 21: Zia 7’s at the NMT Athletic Field.
March 8: at the University of Denver.
March 14: Battle of the Rio Grande 7’s at the NMT Athletic Field.
April 4: qualifier at Greeley, CO.
April 24: National Collegiate Rugby Championships in Maryland.
