POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 12, 2008) -- In their last game before traveling to Albuquerque next week and a much-anticipated match-up with the Naval Academy, the Vassar College Women's squad took on UConn under bright sunny skies with plenty of friends and family watching. The Brewers could probably have used a sterner test as preparation, but they kept their shape and produced 9 tries with some good support running. UConn never threw the towel in and kept tackling, but they were unable to apply any serious pressure with the ball in hand.
Vassar College Women 51 v UConn Women 5
Tries: Keke Hopson (2), Dani Goodman-Levy (3), Marlo Messer (2), Julia Nissen (1), & Morandi Hurst (1).
Cons: Elise Okusami (2) & Nicole Daddazio (1).
The Vassar backrow made good in-roads and linked with the backs well producing an emphatic win over the UConn Huskies. Conditions were perfect with the sun high and bright in the sky and a warm breeze blowing. It was the first really good weekend this spring but at 5:00 am thunderstorms were pounding the area and rain was heavy.
Vassar scored 2 tries in the first 10 minutes with number 8 Dani Goodman-Levy setting up flanker Keke Hopson after turning over a UConn ball-carrier. Then it was Goodman-Levy herself who picked and ran from the base of a ruck eluding 3 tacklers. So Vassar led 10-0 as Elise Okusami struggled to find her kicking form. She did connect on 2 of 8 and struck the ball well, but the kicks for the most part were from wide out.
UConn moved down to the Vassar line following a couple of penalties and drove over only to be held up. Vassar's defense stiffened and they cleared their line with a nice kick from Elise Okusami. The UConn lineout struggled and Vassar's Michele Labas and Keri Peacock stole ball that put Vassar on the front foot. Vassar's third try came after a good run from Morandi Hurst. Goodman-Levy and hooker Alana Melton supported her. The latter had a day to remember as she looked very nimble-footed and ran some nice lines. Scrumhalf Marlo Messer was back to her old sniping try-scoring ways and she went over for that third try and another score in the second half.
Vassar led at the half 30-0 having scored 6 tries and there had been passages of play to delight the spectators. The forwards were offloading to players coming at pace and it was effective. It wasn't too often that Vassar did this but enough to keep the UConn defense guessing. Julia Nissen went over and then from a long kick ahead Goodman-Levy was up as Chrissy Lewis made a great tackle and the loose ball was kicked ahead. Goodman-Levy won the race for the touch down.
The second half Vassar was able to run in the subs and credit is due to them for the way they came in and the team maintained its cohesion. Jessica Lance had a big tackle, as did Nicole Daddazio. Tessa Solomon-Lane ran well at inside center, Vicky Gonzalez made some good tackles and although there were less tries Vassar still controlled the game.
Morandi Hurst finished the scoring for the Brewers with a determined run and Nicole Daddazio who had come on to the wing slotted the conversion.
All in all it had been a good run-out that allowed Vassar to feel confident about the coming weekend.
Team: 15 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 14 Chrissy Lewis 13 Morandi Hurst 12 Julia Nissen 11 Jessica Lance 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, Tessa Solomon-Lane for Julia Nissen, Mariko Yoshimura-Rank for Alana Melton, Jarra Munger for Jessica Lance, Elissa Lim for Morandi Hurst, Nicole Daddazio for Chrissy Lewis.
2007-08 Record: 12-3-0.
Next: Saturday April 19, 2008 versus Navy Women in Albuquerque, NM kick-off 9:00 a.m. – USA Rugby National Championship Women's Division I.
Vassar College Women “B” 38 v UConn Women 0
Tries: Alexis Liakos (1) & Chrissy Lewis (1), Nicole Daddazio (2), Jessica Lance (1), Alana Melton (1).
Cons: Nicole Daddazio (4).
UConn had traveled to Vassar with an “A” and “B” side so the second game of the day saw the somewhat depleted Vassar squad play 5 “A” side players. The Brewers quickly got in to stride and Alexis Liakos, usually a front row player in at number 8, darted over for a 5-0 lead. Chrissy Lewis and Nicole Daddazio added further scores with strong runs up the middle and Jessica Lance ran a lovely line to outflank the UConn defense. At the half it was 24-0 with 2 conversions from Daddazio.
The forwards had a big edge in the scrums and lineouts so possession was not an issue. Jessica Lance scored again early in the second half after Elissa Lim had made a good break. Lim has shown she is a tricky customer and now she needs to work on her distribution after line breaks. Lance was happy enough to get this pass and when Alana Melton scored to make it 36-0 the game was done and dusted. Jane Manchon was held up just inches short, as was Lim earlier. The Vassar Women had scored 6 tries for a combined total of 15 on this Parent's Weekend.
Team: 15 Adhira Mangalagiri 14 Jessica Lance 13 Elissa Lim 12 Lorraine DeGraffenreidt 11 Jarra Munger 10 Nicole Daddazio 9 Tessa Solomon-Lane 1 Vicky Gonzalez 2 Natalie duRivage 3 Alana Melton 4 Jane Manchon 5 Katie Merlie 6 Laura Saiz 7 Stephanie Rapp 8 Alexis Liakos. Subs: Chrissy Lewis for Jarra Munger.
