By
Tony Brown
Head Coach
PRINCETON, NJ (October 17, 2007) -- The Vassar Women started very nervously and were tentative in the opening minutes. Perhaps there were thoughts of 2 years ago when Sarah Griffin, Sari Warren, and Emily Dorman were injured. In any event after a couple of missed opportunities the Brewers got the first score and settled down. It was not a polished performance by any means but there were plenty of indications that areas of their game are improving.
Vassar College Women 27 v Princeton University Women 12
Tries: Elise Okusami (2), Keri Peacock (1), Keke Hopson (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (2).
DG: Alex Milne (1).
A bumper crowd was on hand to watch this mid-week game between the Mid-Atlantic Princeton Tigers and the Northeast's Vassar Brewers. Alumni, family, and friends were in attendance. Charles Williams '80, Jeff Bergman '84 and family, and Tyler Shaw '98 all of the Vassar men's rugby team were joined by players' family members, including the Peacocks, the Scotts, Jeremy Thom, the Hursts, the Kirschners, and the Merlies. In addition a former US Eagle flyhalf, Charlie Wilkinson, and his daughter and granddaughter were present. The Brewers certainly did not lack for support.
Elise Okusami laid down a marker with an early possession as she boomed a high, long kick deep into the Princeton half. It put Princeton in trouble and Vassar stayed in the Princeton 22 for a while. The Tigers defended well and even had a couple of breakouts. Vassar fullback Morandi Hurst faced a one on one but she put in a thumping tackle. She also fielded some kicks and generally had a good game. Knowing she was secure at the back gave the team confidence and they were soon close to the Princeton line again.
Two golden chances went begging in the first 20 minutes. Lorraine DeGraffenreidt and left wing Tessa Solomon-Lane had no-one in front of them just 10 yards out but a poor pass following the line break from Milne wasn't held. Then Milne herself knocked on with just a yard to go! To be fair the Vassar number 12 had made a couple of good tackles and kicks but still no points were on the scoreboard.
Vassar's first of 4 tries was scored by flyhalf Elise Okusami as she alertly took a quick penalty and ran in. From the re-start the forwards won the ball and Okusami immediately got the ball deep into Princeton territory again. She launched a lovely kick that Alex Milne chased and when the Princeton fullback gathered the ball she was bowled over unceremoniously into touch. Meredith Kendall won a lineout and then it was Milne who launched another kick and Princeton were scurrying around on their line. The ball was moved to the right and after a ruck near the try line Keri Peacock dived over for a try and a 10-0 Vassar lead.
Vassar's Keke Hopson may well be the find of the season. She is filling in for the injured Dani Goodman-Levy at number 8 and she scored the next try when she ran straight and hard to dive under the posts. Milne's conversion made it 17-0 and Vassar was now comfortably ahead.
In the second half Vassar kept kicking deep and although the kicks were not chased, as they should have been, it still kept Princeton pinned deep. Okusami scored another try and there was a much improved tackling display. Credit Princeton, down 24-0, they crossed twice late in the match for a total of 12 points. The second Princeton try was a beauty as they stretched the Vassar defense one way and then the other before bursting through under the posts.
For Vassar Adhira Mangalagiri and Amielle Major came on and had some excellent tackles and it was good to see that the defense was still strong as the Princeton wings were pretty quick.
The final Vassar score was probably a first for the women's program as Alex Milne coolly slotted a drop goal! Stefan Schwartz the gauntlet has been thrown down! There was some question as to whether or not it was a punt or a drop kick but the video was inconclusive. Besides it's in the record books now!
A special thank you to all the supporters who made the journey and also to the team for giving up their Fall Break to compete and represent Vassar.
Team: 15 Morandi Hurst 14 Alex Thom 13 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 12 Alex Milne 11 Tessa Solomon-Lane 10 Elise Okusami 9 Keri Peacock 1 Becca Marcus 2 Hannah Roth 3 Natalie duRivage 4 Meredith Kendall 5 Susannah White 6 Alexis Liakos 7 Summer Scott 8 Keke Hopson. Subs: Amielle Major for Susannah White, Alexis Hedrick for Alexis Liakos, Jarra Munger for Tessa Solomon-Lane, Adhira Mangalagiri for Summer Scott.
2007-08 Record: 5-1-0
Next week: Saturday October 21, 2007 at Radcliffe, kick-off 12:00 noon.
Depart Vassar at 7:00 am. Meet at the Radcliffe field at 11:00 am.
