By Tony Brown
Head Coach

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 22, 2007) -- Last Spring the Vassar Women traveled to New Haven and lost a close one to Yale. So there were certainly some nervous players in the Vassar gray jerseys and a good deal of apprehension for this first divisional game of 2007-08. But after 25 minutes the home team had put some distance between themselves and the Ivy League visitors. However, the story of the day was that three rookies scored tries for the Brewers and that bodes well for the future.

Vassar College Women 39 v Yale University Women 0
Tries: Lorraine DeGraffenreidt (1), Alex Milne (2), Jenica Law (1), Keke Hopson (1), Mirandi Hurst (1), Keri Peacock (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (2).

The Yale pack gave Vassar problems right from the start. The home team never seemed to get a consistent drive but Yale were constantly penalized for crooked put-ins, collapsing, or they were wheeled. So Vassar was able to gain territory and apply pressure. The early nerves translated into speed off the mark and urgency in the first quarter of the game from the Vassar players. By contrast Yale was a little off the pace and it allowed Vassar to get ahead with two tries.

The first try was scored by Lorraine deGraffenreidt when Alex Milne passed short after a number of phases. DeGraffenreidt, the Vassar right wing, was smiling from ear to ear as her father applauded on the touchline. Alex Milne scored the next one herself from a Keri Peacock pass and it was the start of an eventful day for the Vassar number 12. She scored another try and made 2 conversions giving her an individual points tally of 14 – not a bad day at the office by any standard.

Vassar maintained their grip and urgency largely through the play of captain and flyhalf Elise Okusami. She was quick thinking and varied her game to good effect never losing the ball in contact and linking well.

Freshman Jenica Law was put away for Vassar's fourth try and ran well to finish. Then came the best try of the match deservedly earned by flanker Keke Hopson. She was in close support the whole afternoon and when a line break came she was invariably first on hand. So when Laura Redden sliced through Hopson was there to go the extra yards.

Rookie Mirandi Hurst rounded out the first half scoring Vassar's sixth try and at the interval Vassar led 34-nil. Hurst chased well and made her tackles so it was fitting that she was rewarded.

Up front Vassar rucked well at times but there was also some scrappy play when players stopped over the ball slowing matters down. Meredith Kendall and Hannah Roth battled throughout and so too did Alex Thom, but the flanker was lucky not be carded as she too often strayed offside and twice at quick tap penalties she tackled the ball carrier in an offside position. Those mistakes cannot continue if she wants to play in the “A” side.

The second half saw Yale make a strong attempt to get back into the game. Down by 34 points it was a tough ask, but to their credit they spoiled and wrestled before freshman Keri Peacock darted through and scored. The Vassar number 9 was tackled but not held and had the presence of mind to quickly pick up the ball and run in for the score. Scorers Peacock, Law, and Hurst, all rookies, have helped give Vassar a solid start in the New England Divisional race.


Team: 15 Jenica Law 14 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 13 Morandi Hurst 12 Alex Milne 11 Laura Redden 10 Elise Okusami 9 Keri Peacock 1 Susannah White 2 Hannah Roth 3 Andrea Listenberger 4 Meredith Kendall 5 Michelle Labas 6 Keke Hopson 7 Alex Thom 8 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank. Subs: Alexis Liakos for Susannah White, Natalie duRivage for Mariko Yoshimura-Rank, Tessa Solomon-Lane for Laura Reddan, Julia Nissen for Elise Okusami, Alana Melton for Hannah Roth, Alexis Hedrick for Alex Thom.

2007-08 Record: 2-0-0

Next week: Saturday September 29, 2007 at Brown University, kick-off 1:00 p.m.