By Tony Brown
Head Coach

BRUNSWICK, ME (November 11, 2007) -- It did not look good for the Brewers after 20 minutes against Brown University as they fell behind by 3 unconverted tries. Vassar had to win, or lose by less than 16 points, to be sure of advancing to Nationals and with three-quarters of the game left it was 0-15. Conditions were perfect for an open game, although it was a bit cold and breezy, and Vassar responded magnificently to make this a final to remember for players and spectators alike.

Vassar College Women 27 v Brown University Women 36
Tries: Elise Okusami (1), Dani Goodman-Levy (2), & Amy Major (1)
Cons: Alex Milne (2)
Pens: Alex Milne (1)

The opening 5 minutes was all played at the Brown 22 as Vassar kicked off and immediately applied pressure. The Brewers were coming off a convincing win over Army the day before and looked sharp with Keri Peacock and Dani Goodman-Levy making inroads. But Vassar didn't come away with any points and when Brown got the ball they quickly laid out their stall. They moved it wide and brought it back and Vassar was caught short of defenders. A strong line break by Brown's Emilie Bydwell was tracked down by Morandi Hurst who made a wonderful tackle in the Vassar 22, but a couple of rucks later Brown had gone over to open the scoring. Vassar had been slow to defend the open side of the field when the backs were caught up in a ruck and they slipped off a couple of tackles near the line.

Ten minutes later Bydwell was put away and Vassar was rattled as Brown went up 10-0. Then on the 20-minute mark Andrea Listenberger got turned over and the ball was gathered some 50 yards out and the Brown flanker went the distance! Vassar was stunned and there was some pretty straight talking behind the posts. It was put up or there would be no shot at Nationals. Cornell was up against Army and the scene was bleak at best for the Brewers.

But Vassar's Meredith Kendall was doing a good job at the lineouts and Vassar had an edge in this area of the game. The Brewers drove one 15 yards and then went through a number of phases before flyhalf Elise Okusami went over to make it 15-5. Maybe now the Brewers would settle and get back in to the contest. But Brown answered quickly and following a lineout about 35 yards out they first went around the back and then switched the ball to the narrow side where Bydwell ran elusively and made 2 players miss tackles. Brown was back in charge at 20-5.

Vassar re-started and after a couple of good runs from Alex Milne and Elise Okusami it was Dani Goodman-Levy who showed the Brown defense a few moves. She danced through and with the conversion it was 20-12.

Vassar needed another score before the half and they pushed forward. A long kick in behind the defense from Milne and a good forward drive from a lineout kept Brown on their heels. But the score remained at 20-12 by the interval.

Vassar kicked deep to start the second half and looked like they would quickly get closer but despite a few minutes of pressure and possession when they were turned over Brown found some space on the open side. Two missed tackles and they were another try ahead, 25-12.

Once again Vassar stormed back and for the next 1o minutes battered away at the Brown line. The forwards rucked well, drove the lineouts, and the backs made hard yards up the middle. Dani Goodman-Levy crashed over and it was 25-17 with Milne's conversion. Now it was Brown that had to defend desperately as Vassar poured on the pressure. Vassar marched down the field again and when Brown was penalized inside their 22 Alex Milne stepped up and kicked the penalty goal. It was now a 5-point game at 25-20. The intensity went up another notch as both teams tore in to each other.

Brown kept trying to stretch the Vassar defense and switch direction, while Vassar attempted to go through the middle and get in behind. Brown, holding on to their narrow 5-point lead opted to take a penalty kick for goal and they went up 28-20 when a Vassar forward was penalized fro coming in to the side of a ruck.

Vassar re-started and within moments was besieging the Brown goal line. Okusami, then Keke Hopson and Goodman-Levy all were tackled just yards short, it was nail-biting stuff. Brown struggled to clear their line. Two kicks went down the middle of the field and Vassar counter-attacked. But a series of penalties right near the line allowed Brown to eventually clear. But again Vassar responded and went through the phases and was pressing on the 22. Then from a turnover the ball spilled loose and was gathered by Brown. Emily Bydwell found a gap and ran 50 plus yards to score and it looked like Brown were safe at 33-20. Just 10 minutes remained and Vassar would need 2 converted tries to win.

Both teams were tired and yet both continued to play their style of game. The Vassar forwards now were looking to pick and drive and it was a very deserved try that Amy Major scored as she dived over between the posts from a ruck just yards out and it was 33-27. Minutes remained and Vassar had one last chance if they could get the ball. But Brown managed to get the ball and from 30 yards out they elected to kick a penalty when Vassar were caught offside.

So the final score was 36-27 but it had been a rollercoaster of a ride. Brown deservedly advances as the best team in the Northeast this year and Vassar also go to Nationals as the Northeast # 2 team. This is the third Vassar team to qualify for nationals, the previous teams were the 2002-03 and 2004-05 squads.

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 Andrea Listenberger 4 Amielle Major 5 Meredith Kendall 6 Michelle Labas 7 Keke Hopson 8 Dani Goodman-Levy.

Vassar's Dani Goodman-Levy was voted Championship M.V.P. quite an honor considering the array of talented players on display. She scored 4 tries over the weekend and was in constant motion in both games.

Vassar College Women's Rugby 2007-08 Record: 9-3-0.

Northeast Rugby Union Women's Collegiate Division I Championship Results

Saturday November 10, 2007
Brown University Women 26 v Cornell University Women 10
Vassar College Women 30 v Army Women 5

Sunday November 10, 2007
Vassar College Women 27 v Brown University Women 36
Army Women 7 v Cornell University Women 32