WEST POINT, NY (October 4, 2008) -- After winning its first four games, the Vassar women's rugby team picked up its first loss against Army, 25-17, on Saturday. The Brewers jumped out to a 5-0 lead and then led 12-5 but just made too many errors to stay atop their old rivals at West Point. It was a disappointing day for Vassar as once again they failed to get their attack pattern going and it cost them dear. The only consolations are that this game does not count in the divisional standings and they will most probably meet Army again in the playoffs.

Vassar College Women 17 v U.S.M.A. Women 25
Tries: Dani Goodman-Levy (1), Bridget Meade (1), & Keri Peacock (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (1).
Vassar made a solid start to this non-divisional game when they caught the kick-off, went through 4 phases, and then Army was penalized at the breakdown. The ensuing kick to touch put Vassar on the Army 22-meter line and after a couple of rucks a set scrum was ordered. Dani Goodman-Levy barged over and Vassar led 5-0.

Moments later Vassar missed a kick to touch and Army counter-attacked effectively to level the scores at 5-5. The Army back 3 are a potent combination and they run well in the open field. But Vassar controlled the next 10 minutes winning phases and putting their opponents under pressure when they had the ball. In fact the pressure was such that Bridget Meade picked off an ill-advised pass from the Army center on the left wing and went in for Vassar's second try and lead. Milne's conversion made it 12-5.

But some mistakes by Vassar let Army back in to the game. First Goodman-Levy knocked-on a kick-off, then players started getting turned-over, and the backs defense lost its shape badly. Army established good field position and also started rucking more effectively. Then from a Vassar lineout the ball was stolen and moved away. Julia Nissen fell off her tackle and Army scored making it 12-10 to Vassar.

So with 25 minutes gone Vassar had the lead but Army had some momentum. Vassar pushed in to the Army 22 and ran a penalty play that made good yards but then they were turned over at the next ruck and a good long kick took them into the Vassar half. Vassar responded with Goodman-Levy picking and running but she missed a golden opportunity to link with support after breaking 10 yards past the gain line. The ruck was won but Nissen turned over and Army ran from their own 22 and scored to take the lead 15-12. Two break away tries and a missed tackle had seen Vassar slip from in front to behind.

In the last 5 minutes before the half Army got inside the Vassar 22 and from a scrum just 10 yards out they went blind to go in at half-time 20-12. It wasn't fancy but the Vassar defense a bit slow as the Army number 10 out ran the entire backrow on the angle to the goal line.

The second half saw another good start for Vassar as they quickly got deep in to Army territory. Keri Peacock was playing a blinder as they say and as Army scrambled back to tackle after a series of forward drives she was able to dive over and make it a 3-point game. Army led 20-17 as Milne missed the conversion. The score would stay that way for much of the second 40 minutes but it was Army who held the edge territorially. Too often as Vassar went forward they turned the ball over and what should have been pressure for the cadets became their possession.

Army scored a try late to give them some insurance but even after that Vassar had a penalty that they ran right in front of the Army posts. A penalty kick there was a certainty and given that they needed to score twice to win they should have taken that kick and made it a one score game at 25-20.

The second half also bore witness to some pretty sloppy rucking by Vassar as they abandoned good body position and thus lost the physical battle at the breakdown.

So turnovers, poor defensive alignment, poor rucking, and lack of pattern in attack were the Brewers undoing.

Team: 15 Nicole Daddazio 14 Jarra Munger 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.

2007-08 Overall Record: 4-1-0.

Next weekend: Saturday October 11, 2008 Vassar College Women v Brown University Women, at the Vassar College Farm, kick-off 1:00 p.m.

Vassar College Women "B" 0 v U.S.M.A. Women "B" 60
Unfortunately, this was a one-sided contest throughout. The Army rookies rucked and tackled well and in sharp contrast the Vassar players did exactly the opposite. There were too many players just grabbing at jerseys and not committing to the tackle.

But to be fair this is a very novice team and in the few sessions that they have had to practice they are making some progress. Tackling will be first on the agenda next week.
Team: 15 Jess Hackett 14 Beverly Fok 13 Mejhorn Flash 12 Lorraine deGraffenreidt 11 Stephanie Rapp 10 Adhira Mangalagiri 9 Pengpeng Xaio 1 Brianna Blackwood-Mallory 2 Caroline Schenkman 3 Krissa Wiechmann 4 Jane Manchon 5 Dana Hart 6 Ann Cadet 7 Ann Other-Cadet 8 Erika Militana. Subs: Jarra Munger for Adhira Mangalagiri.