By Tony Brown
Head Coach

BRUNSWICK, ME (November 10, 2007) -- At the Women's Collegiate Division I Northeast Rugby Union Championship, held at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, the Vassar College Women's Rugby team took on rival Army Women. To put this game into some kind of meaningful perspective one has to know the history of these 2 teams.

In 2002 some female cadets wanted to start a rugby team at the United States Military Academy. They got permission and in the first 6 months held practices and formed a squad. A group of Vassar women traveled a couple of times to West Point to teach them some basic skills and get the fledgling club off the ground. Women's Army Rugby (W.A.R.) was up and running. They played in the same division as Vassar and by 2005 had dethroned Vassar as the Northeast champions! Talk about the student making the teacher proud!

Army and Vassar had faced each other 13 times prior to today and the cadets had won the last 8 contests dating back to April 2005. On this chilly but dry and sunny day, on the beautiful Bowdoin College campus, Army scored the first try after 20 minutes and some could have been forgiven for thinking that 8 would soon be 9 times.

Vassar College Women 30 v Army Women 5
Tries: Elise Okusami (1), Dani Goodman-Levy (2), Lorraine DeGraffenreidt (1), Keke Hopson (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (1).
Pens: Alex Milne (1).

Two weeks ago on a soggy wet New England afternoon Army shutout Vassar 17-0. That was then and this was now. Vassar's number 8, Dani Goodman-Levy, has been out most of the fall with a broken arm but she returned to her old form and plagued the Army defense with some good old-fashioned hard running from the base of the scrum. Vassar captain Elise Okusami who ha also been nursing some injuries was also on song. In the opening 15 minutes Vassar made huge penetrating runs with these two spearheading the way. But Army is a tough nut to crack and they bent but did not break. They scurried back and defended their line. They managed to kick deep and get in to the Vassar 22 and after about 5 minutes of pressure the tall lock forward bashed her way over from a penalty 15 yards out.

But it was a score line that flattered Army and 3 minutes later it was Okusami who scored from close range from a free kick. When Alex Milne kicked the conversion to put Vassar up 7-5 it was the first time the Brewers had led Army since April 2005! The line breaks and the score gave Vassar the knowledge that this was a game they should win. Credit these Vassar women for they knew this was their opportunity and they were not to be denied. Army also suffered a blow when they lost their tall lock to what looked like a knee injury. She is something of a talisman for the team and it was a big loss after falling behind.

A strike against the head by Hannah Roth allowed Goodman-Levy to run left and make a huge gain. The Vassar forwards supported well and managed to drive the maul in-goal. The Brewers were playing at pace and with real zip. Goodman-Levy picked up from the scrum and ran in for the score. Vassar now led 12-5 with just 5 minutes left in the half.

From the restart the Army number 8 ran strongly and a good tackle from Vassar fullback Lorraine DeGraffenreidt probably saved a try. From the ensuing scrum Vassar ran from deep in their own 22 and broke out as far as the Army 10 meter line before being penalized for holding on. It was the best answer to the Army attack. Again Vassar won quick ruck after quick ruck and kudos to freshman Keri Peacock for she was there like a flash at the breakdown. The rookie scrumhalf picked and ran, distributed, and defended superbly all day long. Vassar rucked the ball so quickly that Army were caught offside and Alex Milne slotted the penalty to make it 15-5 at the half.

Vassar had the perfect start to the second half. From a scrum on the Army 22, just to the right of center, Dani Goodman-Levy picked up and went blind. She was only touched when she grounded the ball in the in-goal. Vassar now led 20-5. Army just hadn't found any consistent pattern and apart from a few forward surges and some passing down the back line had not looked like breaking down the Vassar defense. But the cadets were now desperate and that lent urgency to their running and approach. A big break by the center from the halfway line could have turned the tide as she sprinted toward the single Vassar defender, fullback Lorraine DeGraffenreidt. But the number 15 cut her down convincingly at the 22 and the Vassar defense scrambled back. This was to be a banner day for DeGraffenreidt as not long after that great tackle Okusami put her in for a try. Vassar was up 25-5 and Army could only now try to salvage some pride. But Vassar was in no mood to sit back and Keke Hopson crowned a good day at flanker when she drove over and a final score of 30-5 gave Vassar the win.

The scorers get mentioned and some plays standout but to be honest it takes the whole squad to get results. Becca Marcus scrummaged well, Meredith Kendall battled in the lineouts, Hannah Roth hooked and rucked like a player possessed. Michele Labas tackled like Emerald Garvey, and Amy Major played her heart out. It was a tremendous team effort and a day to remember.

Team: 15 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 14 Alex Thom 13 Morandi Hurst 12 Alex Milne 11 Laura Redden 10 Elise Okusami 9 Keri Peacock 1 Becca Marcus 2 Hannah Roth 3 Susannah White 4 Amielle Major 5 Meredith Kendall 6 Michelle Labas 7 Keke Hopson 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Andrea Listenberger for Susannah White, Alana Melton for Hannah Roth, Natalie duRivage for Becca Marcus.

2007-08 Record: 9-2-0.

Northeast Rugby Union Women's Collegiate Division I Championship Results
(Two teams advance to nationals in the spring)

Brown University Women defeated Cornell University Women 26-10.
Vassar College Women defeated Army Women 30-5.

Sunday November 10, 2007
Championship game
1:00 p.m. Vassar College Women v Brown University Women
Qualifier game
1:00 p.m. Army Women v Cornell Women

At the conclusion of the games one team will be 2-0; two teams will be 1-1, and one team 0-2. The 2-0 team is the champion and advances to Nationals as NRU #1.

Of the two teams that are 1-1 if they have played head to head this weekend then the winner of that game advances. If they have not played each other then the points differential (points scored minus points conceded) against the overall champion determines the second placed team.

So, if Vassar defeats Brown then Vassar goes to nationals. If Vassar lose to Brown and Army defeat Cornell then Vassar goes to nationals. If Vassar loses to Brown by less than 16 points and Cornell defeat Army then Vassar goes to nationals. If Vassar loses to Brown by more than 16 points and Cornell defeat Army then Cornell goes to nationals.