POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 11, 2008) – The Vassar College women's rugby team lost to top-ranked Brown University, 31-12, at the Vassar Farm on Saturday. “While Brown had some real shape and pattern to their play it was more a case of turnovers and missed tackles that was the Brewers' demise today,” said head coach Tony Brown.

Vassar College Women's Rugby

Just what you'd expect from #1 versus #9
This was a top quality clash and both teams set out to play their own style of rugby at great pace. The referee, Mr. Nick Priscott, had an excellent game and allowed the players to get on with the job. For the first 60 minutes it was pretty even with Brown just 1 score ahead 19-12. But two tries in the space of 4 minutes earned them a solid victory as they continued their unbeaten ways.

Vassar College Women 12 v Brown University Women 31
Tries: Dani Goodman-Levy (1) & Keri Peacock (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (1).

Vassar gifted Brown their opening score when, in the first minute, the Vassar backs failed to follow their opposite number at the scrum. Credit Brown for running hard and fast but this was a very inauspicious start to the game. Vassar stung by this setback duly marched up the field and responded with a good try from number 8 Dani Goodman-Levy that put Vassar ahead 7-5. Then the game settled down a bit in the scoring department although the contact area was intense.

Brown certainly played with plenty of pace and confidence and they mixed up what they were doing. Sometimes they'd opt to kick in behind but more often than not they'd move the ball to their hard running backs. It's a young group, mostly sophomores, so it bodes well for the future.

The story of the first half was turnovers at the tackle. Vassar relinquished the ball 12 times to Brown's 4. This was just the turnovers at the tackle, in addition there were not straight throws at lineouts and infringements. It was quite something for the Brewers to still be in touch at all after 40 minutes.

The second try from Brown came from one such turnover. The Vassar defenders quickly set up on the openside and the ball went down the blindside. Seventy-five yards later Brown had regained the lead 12-7.

The start of the second half was another bad time for Vassar as Brown scored from set piece. A simple dummy switch and pass out and they were through to lead 19-7. Vassar's Keri Peacock brought the Brewers back into the game when she tapped quickly and ran in untouched from 45 yards and so the stage was set for the final quarter.

In fact there were highlights for many of the Brewers. Dani Goodman-Levy never stopped running and was akin to Davy Crockett at The Alamo, still fighting right to the end. Keri Peacock was outstanding and must have the highest tackle count of any rugby player on the east coast. Keke Hopson continues to ruck with real ferocity and is a player to be feared. Meredith Kendall had a good day in the lineout and Alana Melton works well in the scrum and loose. So it was not all doom and gloom.

Hats off to Brown for their solid set piece play and the dogged defense they showed throughout. Vassar had some good moments with the forwards in particular making some big inroads. But in the end 2 tries from scrums and 3 breakaways gave Brown a deserved edge.

For Vassar they must win at Radcliffe to ensure a top 4 New England seed and then it's a new season as the playoffs commence.

Team: 15 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 14 Nicole Daddazio 13 Laura Redden 12 Julia Nissan 11 Bridget Meade 10 Alex Milne 9 Keri Peacock 1 Ami Major 2 Alana Melton 3 Natalie duRivage 4 Meredith Kendall 5 Hannah Roth 6 Alex Thom 7 Keke Hopson 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Alyssa Bell for Nicole Daddazio, Mariko Yoshimura-Rank for Natalie du Rivage.

2007-08 Overall Record: 4-2-0.

Next: Wednesday October 22, 2008 at Radcliffe in Boston, kick-off 4:00 p.m.

Vassar College Women "B" 5 v Brown University Women "B" 29
Tries: Alex Milne (1).
It was quite a transformation from the previous week. Vassar showed some good shape to their game and even more importantly they made tackles.

Up front the scrummages were even although Vassar was less physical than their opponents. The front three of Blackwood-Mallory, Schenkman, and Wiechman must develop a killer attitude and lead in with a strong hit. Then it is very likely they will gain a significant edge. The lineouts went well and good ball was produced for the backs but in the first half poor service from 9 to 10 meant that any attack was thwarted. Pengpeng Xaio did improve her pass appreciably in the second half but by that point Vassar was behind.

It was good to see Jess Hackett and Kate Hancock making try saving tackles and in fact the whole team battled hard from start to finish.

Team: 15 Jess Hackett 14 Stephanie Rapp 13 Julia Nissen 12 Jarra Munger 11 Kate Hancock 10 Alyssa Bell 9 Pengpeng Xaio 1 Brianna Blackwood-Mallory 2 Caroline Schenkman 3 Krissa Wiechmann 4 Jane Manchon 5 Bonnie Velez 6 Dana Hart 7 Keke Hopson 8 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank. Subs: Alex Milne for Alyssa Bell, Natalie duRivage for Mariko Yoshimura-Rank.