PISCATAWAY, NJ (October 10, 2010) -- Despite a 20-10 lead, the Vassar College women's rugby team could not hang onto the lead and tied Rutgers 20-20 on Sunday afternoon.

The Brewers (3-1-1, 3-0-1 MET NY) host Marist College on the Farm Sunday October 17 at 11:00 a.m.

For the second day in a row in the Northeast the weather was absolutely beautiful and conditions ideal for handling rugby. The Brewers faced a team that last year went to the final 16 in the Division II National Championships. Rutgers had a strong pack, homefield advantage, and a kicking game that attempted to keep them on the front foot.

Vassar played the first 40 minutes down the significant slope at the Rutgers Club Sports field located at Brett Road and led 10-5 with just a minute remaining in the first half. They elected to run a penalty and when turned over Rutgers was able to level the scores.

The Brewers looked sharp in the loose winning quick ruck ball but were under pressure in the scrums. However, they stuck to their guns running hard and straight and despite being 5-0 down tied matters when number 8 O'Mara Taylor scored after 20 minutes from a scrum just 5 meters out.

For the most part the Vassar backs did a good job of containing the Rutgers backs but the first try was a good one from the home team. They worked the ball to their right wing who showed good pace and the ability to step around her defnder to score.

Rutgers persevered with their kicking game and while not always pretty it was sometimes effective as the Vassar back three struggled a bit. Part of the problem was that the kicks went to odd areas as they were sliced or hooked. If this was by design then hats off to the Rutgers kickers for they found some space! But a knock-on here and there added to the Vassar woes.

But it was Vassar who went up 10-5 as wing Margaret Kwateng went over before Rutgers made it 10-10. Kwateng really showed what a competitor she is as she twisted and squirmed over for the go-ahead try. Unfortunately for Vassar Addie Provenzano didn't have the best of days from the kicking tee. Luckily, the Rutger's kicker was off-target as well.

Playing up the slope in the second half Vassar went up 20-10 with 2 unconverted tries and again it was Taylor and Kwateng who went over. Both had strong runs but impressively Kwateng intercepted a pass on the Vassar 22 and went the 75 meters for a try under the posts.

Vassar needed to seal the deal but Rutgers came storming back and with their scrumhalf sniping around the fringes they managed to get it even again. So in the dying minutes Vassar attacked and finished just a yard short of the Rutgers goal line. These teams will most likely meet again and in the playoffs there will be a winner and a loser. The season is still up for grabs as next week Vassar play Marist Women, the latter defeated Rutgers 5-0 last week, so this is very much a three horse race.

Vassar College Women 20 v Rutgers University Women 20
Tries: O'Mara Taylor (2), Margaret Kwateng (2).


Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 Margaret Kwateng 13 Laura Howard 12 Julia Nissen 11 Sarah Fuentes 10 Hannah Bober 9 Keri Peacock 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Kim Beaudoin 3 Alyssa Bell 4 Patty Walton 5 Kate Merlie 6 Maddie Zappala 7 Dallas Robinson 8 O'Mara Taylor. Subs: Rachel Thompson for Maddie Zappala, Manola Fortun for Nichelle Jackson, Naomi Dann for Sarah Fuentes.


Vassar College Women "B" 0 v Rutgers University Women 20

The Vassar "B" team never really got into their stride in this game and then had to face a number of the Rutgers starters filling in. The scrums were a mess as this ridiculous notion that the ball is put in as the front rows hit is being taught to scrumhalves. The scrum must be steady and on the mark and scrumhalves that put the ball in as the front rows impact are putting players at serious risk.

Rutgers made the most of their opportunities and ran in some good tries. They had the lion;s share of the ball and in the end it told.

Team: 15 Rachel Lenihan 14 Emma Elbaum 13 Naomi Dann 12 Chelsea Boccagno 11 Libby Jacobson 10 Natalie Ward 9 Mia Fermindoza 1 Rachel Thompson 2 Maddie Little 3 Manola Fortun 4 Maddie Zappala 5 Sandy Pogarcic 6 Nicole Whitney 7 Hannah Bober 8 Patty Walton. Subs: Kim Beaudoin for Maddie Zappala, Julia Nissen for Hannah Bober, Laura Howard for Patty Walton.