POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 12, 2011) -- The Vassar College women's rugby team edged Rutgers 20-19 on the final kick of the game to advance to the The Northeast Rugby Union Division II Final on Sunday and secure a berth to Nationals.

They don't come any closer than this one! Not only was this a 1-point win but it was earned with the last kick of the game! Both teams played their hearts out and the whole way through this game was on a knife's edge.

Vassar College Women 20 v 19 Rutgers University Women
Tries: O'Mara Taylor (2), Dallas Robinson (1).
Cons: O'Mara Taylor (1).
Pens: O'Mara Taylor (1).

Next: Sunday November 13, 2011 The Northeast Rugby Union Diviion II Final at Vassar College, kick-off 12:00 noon versus Norwich University Women.

The Vassar team faced a strong opponent in Rutgers. The New Jersey school have a tough set of forwards and a back division with pace. They also have a flyhalf who is elusive, kicks outstandingly from hand, and understands the game. She was able to get her team into good field position time and time again and she scored a lovely try after Rutger's had fallen behind.

Vassar took the lead 5-0 when O'Mara Taylor went down the right wing after some good work by scrumhalf Margaret Kwateng. But Rutgers scored a good try of their own to lead 7-5 as the first half began to get bogged down with slow ruck ball. Players were slow to roll away and it allowed defenses to get organized.

Vassar took the lead and held on to it at the half with a second Taylor try and it was 10-7.

It was clear that Rutgers would mount a big challenge in the second 40 minutes and they quickly put Vassar under pressure. Although the Scarlet Knights scored and led 14-10 Vassar had put in some good defensive work. With the restart Vassar managed to get possession and apply some attacking pressure of their own. Lock Dallas Robinson twisted and turned to get over the line and it 17-14 to the Brewers.

Earlier in the season these teams had played and Rutger's had won 24-22 and this game looked headed in the same direction with a close finish. No-one could have anticipated how close it would turn out to be. A third try from Rutger's pushed them ahead 19-17 and the home crowd was stunned.

The Vassar pack had scrummaged strongly and worked hard. In the backs Hannah Bober was like a rock in a storm and never faltered. Julia Maltby was decisive and strong, and at the back Addie Provenzano was like an eel as she wriggled and ran through the smallest of gaps. It just didn't seem that they would be denied.

They pressed and when Rutgers passed the ball back from a 5-meter scrum to the in-goal, and then had the kick charged down, one felt that at the scrum they'd have their chance. But a 22-meter drop out was awarded and after a huge kick from the Rutgers flyhalf, Vassar was looking at a 50 meter stretch of field and very little time left.

But the Brewers came storming back and won a penalty some 30 meters out and right in front of the posts. For a moment it looked like they'd run the ball but with time running out Taylor elected to kick. She stepped up, slotted the kick, and the referee blew the final whistle! It had been an emotional day with the men's team losing a heartbreaker earlier. The moment brought to mind Kipling's poem and the line, "If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same..." The Vassar Women will take on Norwich University Women tomorrow for the number 1 seed going to Nationals in the spring. But for now they will need to rest after a tough, tough game.

Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 O'Mara Taylor 13 Chelsea Boccagno 12 Julia Maltby 11 Natalie Ward 10 Hannah Bober 9 Margaret Kwateng 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Alyssa Bell 3 Shanaye Williams 4 Sandy Pogarcic 5 Dallas Robinson 6 Maddie Zapalla 7 Meg Slattery 8 Nicole Guererro.