By Tony Brown
Head Coach

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 29, 2008) -- The Vassar College Women took to their home field for the first game of the Spring 2008 season on a day that brought memories of last November. At 7:00 a.m. a flurry of snow gave way to a strong wind out of the north. The temperature was 30 degrees Fahrenheit but the wind-chill made it feel like 20 degrees! It was a wonder the players could catch anything as it was difficult to feel ones hands and faces were numb. But the visitors Cornell and the hosts made short measure of the winter-like cold and produced an open game with 7 tries to warm the hearts of the home spectators.

Vassar College Women 25 v Cornell University Women 12
Tries: Amielle Major (1), Chrissy Lewis (1), Elise Okusami (1), Marlo Messer (1), Dani Goodman-Levy (1).

Cornell University, ranked # 7 nationally, had left 6 inches of snow in Ithaca and ventured south with a point to prove. In the fall they had finished third in the Northeast behind Vassar and missed out going to Nationals on points difference. But Vassar was keen to show that they themselves were deserving of their second place finish and trip to Albuquerque in April.

The game started at a cracking pace and referee Paul Lumia did a very good job of talking to the players keeping infringements to a minimum. Initial Cornell pressure was absorbed and then Vassar broke out. There was a real zip and urgency in their play and up front no quarter was asked nor given. Uncompromising rucking and some good tackles put Vassar on the front foot and that allowed Marlo Messer to launch the Vassar attacks. She was guilty of some optimistic off-loads one of which led to a Cornell try but overall she navigated her first game since April 2007 well. Also very noticeable in the early exchanges was Chrissy Lewis. She made her work in the gym pay dividends when she fended off a couple of would-be tacklers and offloaded inside to support. The ensuing phases led to freshman Ami Major ploughing over the line and Vassar led 5-0. She is fitter than in the fall and it showed.

But Cornell were next to score and they took the lead but not before a defiant goal line stand from the home team. The intensity in the loose play was worthy of a scene from "300" at times and none of the backs shied away from their share of the action. Cornell went ahead 7-0 when Meg Crapster-Pregont kicked the conversion. Vassar's riposte was immediate and Messer combined with Okusami who put Lewis away to make it 10-7. The left wing still had a bit to do but again she brushed aside the defenders to score.

Vassar never relinquished the lead and led 25-7 with just one minute remaining when finally Cornell were able to put away their speedy right winger. She ran a full 75 yards to score but by then the game was done and dusted.

Vassar scored a third try before half-time when Elise Okusami went over following sustained pressure and a penalty was conceded. In the second half Messer and Dani Goodman-Levy scored to kill off any hopes of a Cornell comeback. A number of visiting alumni, most notably former captain Danika "Sneaky" Oriol-Morway, were all smiles by this point.

The battle in the forwards was certainly edged by Vassar. The Brewers scrum disrupted Cornell ball and Alana Melton took a number of strikes against the head. In the lineouts Michele Labas made a number of good catches securing possession for Vassar. But it was in the loose that Vassar earned a big advantage outrucking the Ivy Leaguers.


Michele Labas secured good possession in the lineouts. Vassar captain Elise Okusami had a magical day at flyhalf. No doubt motivated by her match-up against Cornell's US Eagle Meg Crapster-Pregont, Okusami didn't put a foot wrong save for one difficult kick under pressure. Her distribution was well timed and her running very effective.

Another good feature of the Vassar play was that the backrow trio of Goodman-Levy, Hopson, and Peacock linked well with the backs and all had good open field runs.

One would be remiss if no mention was made of Julia Nissan at inside center. She faced an excellent number 12 from Cornell and although she missed a couple of tackles she had a very accomplished game in her first start in the position. Freshman wing Jessica Lance showed some good running and she too is an exciting prospect.

Vassar has a game in mid-week and then travels to Providence, RI to take on Providence College next Saturday. They will want to maintain the intensity they achieved against Cornell and keep improving their set piece play.

Team: 15 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 14 Jessica Lance 13 Morandi Hurst 12 Julia Nissan 11 Chrissy Lewis 10 Elise Okusami 9 Marlo Messer 1 Becca Marcus 2 Alana Melton 3 Alexis Liakos 4 Amielle Major 5 Michele Labas 6 Keri Peacock 7 Keke Hopson 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Natalie duRivage for Alexis Liakos, Mariko Yoshimura-Rank for Becca Marcus.

2007-08 Record: 10-3-0.

Next: Wednesday April 2, 2008 versus Hudson Valley Women at Vassar kick-off 6:15 p.m.

Vassar College Women "B" 8 v Cornell University Women "B" 17
Tries: Chrissy Lewis (1).
Pens: Nicole Daddazio (1).

Vassar started well and established some good continuity winning a host of rucks and driving deep into Cornell territory. Mariko Yoshimura-Rank and Alexis Hedrick forged forward and Katie Merle at 9 was on her game varying running and passing from the base of the rucks. But when breaks were made the Cornell defense scrambled and made crucial tackles. Vassar kept pounding away and eventually settled for a penalty goal. Rookie Nicole Daddazio coolly stepped up and slotted the kick. The score stayed that way until the half.

Vassar were on the score sheet again when substitute Chrissy Lewis outflanked the defense and Vassar led 8-0. But Cornell just wouldn't lie down. Their center pairing was very quick and agile and as they got more ball they made deep inroads. Only some last ditch tackles from Adhira Mangalagiri, Daddazio, and others preserved Vassar's lead. Late in the second half Cornell finally got the try they deserved and as Vassar tired they ran in a further 2 tries to earn the win.

Team: 15 Adhira Mangalagiri 14 Stephanie Rapp 13 Elissa Lim 12 Nicole Daddazio 11 Jarra Munger 10 Tessa Solomon-Lane 9 Katie Merle 1 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank 2 Alexis Liakos 3 Kim Nguyen 4 Vicky Gonzalez 5 Jane Manchon 6 Laura Saiz 7 Keri Peacock 8 Alexis Hedrick. Subs: Natalie duRivage for Alexis Liakos, Chrissy Lewis for Keri Peacock.