PROVIDENCE, RI (October 25, 2008) -- At the New England Rugby Union Championship, held at Brown University, the Vassar Women faced Army for the second time this year. The Brewers dominated the first half in terms of territory but only managed a late try to lead 5-0. In the second half Army got their noses in front and then scored 2 more tries to earn the win. However, Vassar advances to the Northeast playoffs next weekend and will face UMass., Amherst at Vassar, kick-off at 12:00 noon.


Vassar College Women 5 v Army Women 21

Tries: Ami Major (1).

This was definitely a game of two distinct halves as Vassar defended stoutly and then pressured Army for the majority of the first half. The Brewers scrummaged well and had a good platform from which to get the go forward they needed. Army has some good poachers and very good all around team speed. It means that even if a team does break through they are generally hauled down and if turned over the Army backs are a serious threat. So it was imperative for Vassar to get 2 or 3 tries when they had good field position. In the end 1 try was just not enough.

Vassar's try came at a lineout when Army tried to pick-off the throw and deflected it down to their hooker. It's their main tactic at the front and usually they gain possession. But when the ball was tapped down Vassar's Ami major was on hand to pick it off and she barreled over the line.

The Army backs had tried to spread the ball wide but it was just about impossible to get around the defense on the ridiculously narrow football field. The Vassar tacklers and the lack of space thwarted them.

So down by a try the cadets rallied in the second half. They ran with conviction and purpose but Vassar defended well. Twice Vassar held them up over the goal line and then cleared their lines to keep the lead. The forward battle was intense and for the second time this year Vassar was able to get steals but then would lose out to good Army counter-rucking.

Finally, with just 15 minutes remaining the Army forwards managed to bundle over and they took the lead 7-5. But this was still very much game on and Vassar hit back deep in to the Army 22 and were themselves stopped right on the line when Keri Peacock dived over only to knock-on. It was a very tense affair.

Vassar lost Ami Major when she and fellow front row player Alana Melton collided making a tackle. Both were shaken-up with Melton likely to play next weekend but Major sustained a broken nose and may be out longer.

In the last 10 minutes Vassar began to slip off some tackles and Army went right up the middle first to go 14-5 up and then a try in the last minute made it 21-5. It was a frustrating loss for the Brewers as they continue to play well for extended periods only to have significant lapses.

Army have a number of good open field runners and they proved it convincingly again in the final defeating Brown University Women 17-0.

Vassar is seeded # 4 in the Northeast playoffs and will face the cadets again if they defeat UMass next weekend. The fat lady hasn't sung yet and it's a new season now, win or go home!
Team: 15 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 14 Nicole Daddazio 13 Laura Redden 12 Bridget Meade 11 Jarra Munger 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: Mariko Yoshimura-Rank for Natalie duRivage, Natalie duRivage for Ami Major.
2007-08 Overall Record: 5-3-0.

Next: Saturday November 1, 2008 UMass., Amherst at Vassar College Farm, kick-off 12:00 noon.
New England Rugby Union Championship Results - Fall 2008
Brown University Women 22 v UMass., Amherst Women 0
Army Women 21 v Vassar College Women 5
Dartmouth College Women 30 v UConn Women 0
Providence College Women 15 v Yale University Women 5
Northeastern University Women 8 v Radcliffe Women 5
UMass forfeit to Vassar; Providence forfeit to Dartmouth;
Yale University Women 19 v UConn Women 5
Championship game
Army Women 17 v Brown University Women 0

Final standings for New England Women's Collegiate Division I - Fall 2008
1. Army Women
2. Brown University Women
3. Vassar College Women
4. UMass., Amherst Women
5. Dartmouth College Women
6. Providence College Women
7. Yale University Women
8. UConn Women
9. Northeastern University Women
10. Radcliffe Women
Northeast Rugby Union Championship
Saturday November 1, 2008
Army, Brown, Vassar, UMass., Dartmouth, and Providence all advance to the NRU quarterfinals.
The University of Buffalo and Cornell advance from New York State.
Quarterfinals
1 NRU seed ARMY v 8 NRU seed PROVIDENCE
4 NRU seed VASSAR v 5 NRU seed UMASS
3 NRU seed BUFFALO v 6 NRU seed DARTMOUTH
2 NRU seed BROWN v 7 NRU seed CORNELL
(Higher seed at home)
Relegation Playoff
Saturday November 1, 2008
Radcliffe at Yale *
Northeastern at UConn *

* The two winners remain in Division I for Fall 2009.