NEW PALTZ, NY (October 23, 2011) -- For the second week in a row, the Vassar College women's rugby team took on an opponent in the Hudson Valley. Last year New Paltz played Vassar in the Championship game and it was a ding-dong affair with the Brewers eventually coming out ahead. This Fall it proved just as difficult but the result was the same.

Vassar College Women 29 v 0 SUNY-New Paltz Women
Tries: Margaret Kwateng (2), Alyssa Bell (1), O'Mara Taylor (2).
Cons: O'Mara Taylor (2).

Overall Record: 5-2-0.

Next week: Sunday October 30, 2011 versus Marist College Women at Vassar, kick-off 11:30 am

It wasn't pretty and if points were awarded for territorial domination then it would have been over after 40 minutes. But New Platz are a very proud and combative team and they dug deep to hold the Brewers to 5-0 at the half. The Hawks just kept making tackles and while they rarely threatened they were obstructive.

Vassar found it hard to get into their pattern and too many dropped passes or knock-ons provided further disruption. The field was heavy under foot in a couple of areas and being narrow it was a little easier to defend but that does not excuse the errors that were made. Ball placement was poor and at the half the team was frustrated. 

However, to their credit, the Brewers re-grouped and behind a strong display from Alyssa Bell and the forwards they ran in 4 tries in the second half to win the match.

There were some big hits in this game and one in particular when Maddie Zappala and Margaret Kwateng drove the New Paltz winger into touch was of NFL quality!

The Brewers now head into the Conference Playoffs and due to the fact that Quinnipiac have had to drop out they will face Marist for the second time in 3 weeks. The other semifinal is between Rutgers and Stony Brook. So it's time to win or go home and with a couple of Brewers hopefully returning to the team after injury the stage is set.

Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 Natalie Ward 13 Chelsea Boccagno 12 Julia Maltby 11 O'Mara Taylor 10 Hannah Bober 9 Margaret Kwateng 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Alyssa Bell 3 Shanaye Williams 4 Sophia Rutkin 5 Rachel Harth 6 Sandy Pogarcic 7 Maddie Zappala 8 Nicole Guerrero. Subs: Maddie Little for Shanaye Williams.

Vassar College Women "B" 59 v 0 SUNY-New Paltz Women "B"
Tries: Olivia May (1), Naomi Dann (1), Hannah Fink (1), Emma Redden (2), Nichelle Jackson (1), Emma Elbaum (1), Julia McGill (1), & Maddie Little (1).
Cons: Gavriella Kaplan (7).

In a 9-try extravaganza the Vassar Women spread the wealth as 8 different players scored tries and in addition fullback Gavy Kaplan slotted 7 conversions with a quality kicking display.

The shape and organization was there for all to see as the Vassar forwards won quick ruck ball and then Olivia May ran the show at flyhalf.

It was good to have Yael Schwartz back on the field after a nasty knock a few weeks ago and her service was good to the upperclassman flyhalf. May was able to launch Emma Redden in particular and the Vermont native does like to run. She broke tackles and earned 2 tries for her efforts. In addition her center partner Emma Elbaum wriggled over for a good score and all the while it was the Vassar forwards dominating the contact area.

It was a very novice New Paltz team and they never gave up but the lack of ball meant that they were always on the back foot.

Team: 15 Gavriella Kaplan 14 Hannah Fink 13 Emma Elbaum 12 Emma Redden 11 Naiomi Dann 10 Olivia May 9 Yael Schwartz 1 Sophia Rutkin 2 Maddie Little 3 Kyle Higgins 4 Sandy Pogarcic 5 Julia McGill 6 Claire Ashley 7 Natalie Ward 8 Anna Carias Subs: Hannah Bober for Natalie Ward, Nichelle Jackson for Sophia Rutkin.