October 16- Arizona Second XV closed their preseason on Friday with a trip to the Midwest, taking on Notre Dame in South Bend for the Parseghian Cup.

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With a side featuring 17 Freshmen, the young Wildcats' defense started strong, bringing good pressure on the Irish and setting themselves up for many attacking opportunities that they were unable to convert. The 7-0 halftime deficit kept the visitors in reach until Flyhalf Lucas Agasse's long distance try and conversion tied the match to start the second period. A Notre Dame try to make it 12-7 before reserve Fullback Mason Phillips set up a Theo Smith try to tie the game at 12 with twenty minutes left. Unfortunately, the veteran Irish side was able to punch in one more score before a try in the final ten minutes made it 26-12, the final scoreline in the Wildcats' first loss of the preseason. 

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Despite the loss, Head Coach Sean Duffy pointed to the hugely invaluable experience from the weekend. "We planned this for months as a unique opportunity to raise funds for a great cause, give a number of Freshmen and Sophomores a unique team-bonding experience, and test them against another program's first side to see what they have heading in to Spring."

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The cause referred to is the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, with over $40,000 raised this past weekend in the effort to find a cure for Niemann Pick Type C disease. For more on the foundation, including how to make a donation, click here.

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The Wildcats now turn their attention to Sevens, with the second leg of the West Coast Sevens this coming weekend in San Francisco followed by the PAC Rugby Sevens Championship November 3-4 in Berkeley. 

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Arizona 12-26 Notre Dame

Tries: Agasse, Smith

Conv: Agasse- 1/2

Pen: Agasse- 0/1

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Second XV vs Notre Dame

1- Jordan Wander

2- Gabe Coray-Dozier

3- Theo Smith

4- Daniel Hagan 

5- Carson Harthun

6- Jakob Brown

7- Charlie Green

8- Alex Rayton (C)

9- Sidney Shoop

10- Lucas Agasse

11- Joe Sargeant

12- James Karton

13- Jayme Thomas

14- Cyprian Miller

15- Noah Thompson

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16- Braeden Looper

17- Ryan Elias

18- Reed Hirshman

19- Blaze Hutkin

20- Tyler Heer

21- Tanner Davison

22- Carter Clarke

23- Mason Phillips

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