PORTSMOUTH, RI (April 19, 2009) -- The Vassar College Women's Rugby team traveled to Rhode Island and swept aside the Division I opposition. They went 4-0, all the squad of 24 played, they scored 16 tries in the 4 games to average 4 tries a game, and they only conceded 2 tries. One couldn't have scripted it any better for the outgoing seniors. Well, except for Alexandra Thom, as she sustained a nasty cut to her forehead in the opening minutes of the first game and had to have multiple stitches. She was even more angry that she'd missed the chance to play.

So the seniors finished their collegiate rugby careers on a winning note and 5 of them scored tries! The women's overall record for 2008-09 improved to 12-6-0 and there were quite a few tears shed as the team celebrated after the final game.

Saturday April 18, 2009 - Game 1
Vassar College Women 26 v Syracuse University Women 10
Tries: Meredith Kendall (1), Danielle Goodman-Levy (1), Keri Peacock (1), Bridget Meade (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (3).

Playing Syracuse is one thing. Playing Syracuse when Tess Khonska is on their side is a doubly difficult task. The USA Women's Rugby National team player is a formidable opponent and Vassar knew right from the outset that they would be in a battle. She scored the first try and although Vassar struck back with some good phase play and then Meredith Kendall went over the Big Orange scored next to make it 10-7 at the half and Vassar was just 20 minutes away from a loss.

The good news was that Dani Goodman-Levy and Keri Peacock were to have the first of 4 excellent games on this sunny New England weekend. Peacock ran into the open spaces and Dani made the hard yards often setting her up. It was wonderful to watch and both scored tries to edge Vassar ahead.

Vassar was without several players so Alex Milne took the helm at flyhalf and she was another player who had a pearler of a weekend. She varied her game and when she wasn't running hard at the defense herself she distributed to the outside backs.

Wing Bridget Meade is such an inspiration to the team. She has fought back from a badly broken ankle and showed such bravery to play again. Her best position is inside center but her ankle can't take the additional work there so she loiters on the left wing. The other inspirational aspect of her game is very tangible. Bridget is a strong runner who picks her line and heaven help anyone who stands in her way. She bowled over the Syracuse wing on a number of occasions and spectators on the touchline were seen to wince as the Vassar wing bashed her way to the try line!

Team: 15 Jessica Lance 14 Laura Redden 13 Morandi Hurst 12 Julia Nissen 11 Bridget Meade 10 Alex Milne 9 Keri Peacock 1 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank 2 Alana Melton 3 Natalie duRivage 4 Meredith Kendall 5 Hannah Roth 6 Alexandra Thom 7 Alexis Hedrick 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Krissa Wiechmann for Alexandra Thom.

Saturday April 18, 2009 - Game 2
Vassar College Women 24 v Providence College Women 0
Tries: Alex Milne (2), Krissa Wiechmann (1), Jessica Lance (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (2).

The plan when playing Providence is to keep the ball. The Friars have some good open field runners and they have to be denied opportunities to attack. Vassar's set piece play was rock solid and Alana Melton continues to impress at hooker. It was great to see freshman Krissa Wiechmann getting into the action and making good yards. She was rewarded with a try and it will be the first of many over the next 3 years one thinks. She has great hands and runs north-south.

The forwards laid the platform and although the backs were a bit out of sync in the end it worked out favorably for Alex Milne. Instead of distributing because the timing was a bit off, she kept the ball and found space. She scored two well deserved tries and always looked comfortable.

Vassar defense was quick to assemble and that meant Providence was looking at a gray wall whenever they got the ball.

Team: 15 Morandi Hurst 14 Jessica Lance 13 Laura Redden 12 Julia Nissen 11 Bridget Meade 10 Alex Milne 9 Keri Peacock 1 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank 2 Alana Melton 3 Natalie duRivage 4 Hannah Roth 5 Krissa Wiechman 6 Meredith Kendall 7 Alexis Hedrick 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Kate Hancock for Bridget Meade.

Saturday April 18, 2009 - Game 3
Vassar College Women 19 v Northeastern University Women 0
Tries: Jessica Lance (1), Keri Peacock (1), Alex Milne (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (2).

The Northeastern team has a big pack and they kept it fairly close and tight. Vassar made their tackles on the fringes and were good at poaching the ball. But once again it was a case of winning more ball and going forward. Meredith Kendall soared in the lineouts and all the pack followed her and Dani Goodman-Levy's lead. Again Keri Peacock was able to break through gaps and that just added to the Northeastern woes. Katie Merlie came on at flanker and ran some great lines catching two kicks-offs and it was a real team effort.

The Brewers were now 3-0 and that meant a re-match with Syracuse and Tess on Sunday.

Team: 15 Morandi Hurst 14 Jessica Lance 13 Laura Redden 12 Julia Nissen 11 Bridget Meade 10 Alex Milne 9 Keri Peacock 1 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank 2 Alana Melton 3 Natalie duRivage 4 Hannah Roth 5 Amanda Waterhouse 6 Meredith Kendall 7 Alexis Hedrick 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Kate Hancock for Bridget Meade, Alyssa Bell for Alana Melton, Caroline Schenkman for Natalie duRivage, Katie Merlie for Alexis Hedrick, Laura Sais for Meredith Kendall, Pengpeng Xiao for Keri Peacock.

Sunday April 19, 2009
Championship Game
Vassar College Women 31 v Syracuse University Women 0
Tries: Bridget Meade (1), Penalty Try (1), Alex Milne (1), Hannah Roth (1), Keri Peacock (1).
Cons: Alex Milne (3).
Sometimes it just all comes together. The stars align and the players get to enjoy real fluidity and grace added to the physicality aspect of the game. The Vassar backs cut loose and given the great quality ball from the forwards they complimented each other so well. Yes, Tess was out there and she had her moments. Syracuse had moved her to inside center from Number 8. There was the potential for her breaks to be very punishing. But apart from two long runs Vassar contained her and credit is particularly due to Alex Milne and Julia Nissen. Nissen made some big tackles to bring her down and Milne too put in her fair share or assisted.

But the lasting impressions of this game are of some impressive passing movements as first Meade scored after Nissen had picked up a pass on her toes. Then Laura Redden streaking through only to be pulled down by the shoulders a yard short and so a penalty try awarded. Milne had put Redden through from 40 yards out and the latter had run the perfect angle to get away from the defense. Milne and Peacock got in on the act with tries for themselves. The icing on the cake was Hannah Roth scoring. The senior lock had only a few yards to go and in her utterly unique style, with elbows and knees flying in all directions, she dived over the line. It was smiles all round.

Four games in 2 days is hard graft and everyone played a role in this Tournament. Hats off to the Vassar College Women's Rugby team of 2008-09.

Team: 15 Morandi Hurst 14 Jessica Lance 13 Laura Redden 12 Julia Nissen 11 Bridget Meade 10 Alex Milne 9 Keri Peacock 1 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank 2 Alana Melton 3 Natalie duRivage 4 Hannah Roth 5 Krissa Wiechmann 6 Meredith Kendall 7 Alexis Hedrick 8 Dani Goodman-Levy. Subs: Kate Hancock for Jessica Lance.

2008-09 Overall record: 12-6-0.
Next: Saturday May 2, 2009 Alumni Game at the Farm KO 11:00 am