HARTFORD, CT (October 31, 2009) -- The short journey to Hartford was for a winner take all game. Win and the Vassar Women would head to the Northeast quarterfinals for the 13th consecutive year, lose and they would be done for the fall. Despite a close fought game Vassar was outscored 3 tries to 1 and there will be no game next weekend.

Vassar College Women 7 v UConn Women 19
Tries: Keri Peacock (1).
Cons: Kate Hancock (1).

A couple of slip ups early on allowed UConn to get ahead and the home team played hard throughout to edge out Vassar. Vassar lost a scrum against the head and the strong running UConn number 8 made the Brewers pay as she burst over for an early try. At 7-0 Vassar then went to work and put a lot of phases together. The forwards made good yards and the centers were also getting over the gain line. The line breaks weren't huge but they made the hard yards to get into the UConn 22.

Keri Peacock was playing with her ankle heavily strapped and she put in a sterling performance. Vassar played the first half into a strong breeze and did pretty well to hold the score to just 12-0 by the half. UConn kicked deep a number of times in the first half and novice fullback Julia Rossi did well as she caught and counter-attacked.

The second UConn try was a case of poor tackling and that malaise was to haunt Vassar later in the game. Down 7-0 freshman flyhalf Hannah Bober looked to have scored in that first half but she dived short of the line. The field was a football field and there were numerous lines so it was an unfortunate mistake.

Turning around 12-0 down Vassar punched their way to the UConn goal line and it was Keri Peacock who scored under the posts. Kate Hancock kicked the conversion and it was game on at 12-7. Credit UConn as they responded well and marched back in to the Vassar half applying pressure.

The rucks were messy affairs and the ball produced slow which did not help the Vassar cause. So, for 20 plus minutes at 12-7 it was punch and counter punch with little ground given by either team. In the end it was UConn who got the vital try as again poor tackling let in their number 8.

Vassar must regroup this spring and improve their skills and look toward next Fall being stronger, fitter, and more skilled.

Team: 15 Julia Rossi 14 Laura Howard 13 Emma Backe 12 Willa Conway 11 Kate Hancock 10 Hannah Bober 9 Keri Peacock 1 Krissa Wiechmann 2 Natalie duRivage 3 Shanaye Williams 4 Amanda Waterhouse 5 Kim Beaudoin 6 Lucy Cantwell 7 Ami Major 8 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank.

Overall record Fall 2009: 4-4-1.
Next: Ireland Tour March 2010.

Vassar College Women "B" 10 v UConn Women "B" 7
Tries: Ami Major (2).

In the final game of the season the Vassar "B" team put together some nice periods of continuity and ran out winners 2 tries to 1 against UConn "B".

Up front Krystal Cashen rucked very well and all the forwards worked well together. It definitely helped that a number of "A" side forwards led the way and their example made a big difference to the shape of the game.

Behind the scrum Jansyn Thaw did a lovely job at 9 mixing up her distribution and running game. She is a powerful runner and frequently got in front of her forwards to good effect. In the center Annie Creech had a good game and not only ran hard but made some good tackles.

Team: 15 Laura Howard 14 Vanora Estridge 13 Annie Creech 12 Caitlin Bull 11 Charlene Ren 10 Hannah Bober 9 Jansyn Thaw 1 Patty Walton 2 Alyssa Bell 3 Krystal Cashen 4 Kim Beaudoin 5 Amanda Waterhouse 6 Laura Saiz 7 Natalie duRivage 8 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank. Subs: Krissa Wiechmann for Amanda Waterhouse, Ami Major for Mariko Yoshimura-Rank, Lucy Cantwell for Kim Beaudoin.