QUINCY,MA – Junior Tyreik Thomas scored three trys in the first match and added the lone score against Indiana to lead the Nazareth Rugby team to a 2-1 record in the New England Free Jacks National Qualifier Tournament Saturday.

Nazareth (9-7) improved its overall championship resume with a pair of wins Saturday including a 35-12 dominating win over Columbia to start the day. The Golden Flyers dropped a defensive battle with Indiana by a 26-7 scored but rebounded to beat Queens College 10-5 in the consolation round.

The overall winning team of the tournament earned an automatic bid to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Championship Tournament, but the two wins combined with wins over St. Bonaventure and Rowan in the previous tournament gives Nazareth a good resume of wins for consideration for selection.

Thomas scored a hat trick in the opener and junior Rahmel Beal and senior Khalil Lynch adding single scores. Sophomore Brendan O'Neill (2) and junior Conrad Hillsheim (3) added the conversion kicks.

Against Indiana, Thomas made the lone try for Nazareth and O'Neill added the kick. The points against the Hoosiers were the only points allowed in the tournament.

In the consolation bracket, juniors Owen Fitzwater and Jacob Townsand each scored a try as Nazareth completed the tournament with a 10-5 win.

Nazareth will compete in the Liberty Rugby Conference Tournament April 1 at Fairfield, CT before hosting the Nazareth Tournament April 8.