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POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 9, 2011) -- The Vassar College women's rugby team spent the first 15 minutes of this game on the back foot with UMass battling forward through surges from their big pack. But the Vassar players put in some good tackles so there were no easy yards for the visitors. At around the 20 minute mark Vassar's right wing Margaret Kwateng picked up a loose ball that squirted from a ruck and she dashed a full 70 yards to score down the right touchline. It was an opportunistic try but it came from solid defensive work. On this beautiful spring day with glorious sunshine and blue sky, Vassar went on to score another seven tries while also pitching a shutout. Well, it was Parent's Weekend so did you expect them to ease up any?
Vassar College Women 42 v UMass., Amherst Women 0
Tries: Margaret Kwateng (3), Keri Peacock (2), Addie Provenzano (1), Dallas Robinson (1), and Julia Nissen (1).
Cons: Hannah Bober (1).
So Vassar takes their record to 10-3-1 and heads to Portsmouth, RI next weekend to compete in the Beast of the East Tournament. There they will face another division I school in UConn so we shall see if they can claim a third victory over a division I opponent.
The last time Vassar played UMass., Amherst it was the Fall of 2009 and a very novice team ran into an experienced UMass outfit. The Brewers lost 52-0 and UMass employed a kick and chase game to very good effect. But while they tried similar tactics again there were a couple of noticeable differences in 2011.
First, Vassar managed to maintain possession when they had the ball. Second, and even more telling, was the counter-attacking of Kwateng and Addie Provenzano. These two are fleet of foot and they regularly caught the ball and launched effective counters linking with each other and Keri Peacock of course. Peacock was absolutely the best player on the field by a mile. She threw a couple of poor passes early but otherwise she ran the show for Vassar in attack and defense. Earlier this week having reviewed game video it was calculated that she makes between 15 and 20 tackles a game! That means in her Vassar career she has probably made close to 1,000 tackles for the Brewers against the top teams in the country.
Peacock scored the second Vassar try when she supported a blindside break and then picked up and dived in so at the half the score was 10-0. The encouraging signs for the Brewers were that apart from that early spell they had dominated territorially. About 3 good scoring chances had gone begging but the formula for success was clear. They had to commit players to rucks and make sure they maintained possession and that they did. The forwards picked and ran just wide of the breakdown and the support was there in a flash. The forwards for the second week in a row played so well as a unit. Each member having brief moments in the spotlight as they carried the ball forward - Kate Merlie, Alyssa Bell, Nichelle Jackson, and Dallas Robinson come to mind. But collectively they were a like a force of nature sweeping UMass aside. Pace and precision are words that would be used in the professional game and they applied here without a doubt.
Special mention is due Hannah Bober, the Vassar number 10. Dripping wet she is no heavier than a piece of tissue paper yet she made a host of tackles and took responsibility when needed often being thumped in the process. She got the back division moving and they always looked dangerous. When Kwateng went right through the middle from 50 yards to score it was Bober's pass that had made the incision.
The key score came in the early part of the second half when fullback Addie Provenzano went around the UMass right wing and fullback after some good work with players off-loading as they got in behind the defense. When Provenzano scored after sprinting at full tilt and then stepping inside the fullback the crowd went wild and it was going to be Vassar's day for sure!
The hard work of the first half was paying dividends and now UMass was less competitive at the breakdown. They were behind, tired, and Vassar's players were buzzing! Julia Nissen sliced through for a lovely try while Kwateng and Peacock added to their tally. Back from injury, Robinson was strong with the ball in hand. She needs to be less dramatic and keep the ball closer to her body but she does break tackles from time to time.
Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 Margaret Kwateng 13 Mia Fermindoza 12 Julia Nissen 11 Chelsea Boccagno 10 Hannah Bober 9 Keri Peacock 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Kim Beaudoin 3 Alyssa Bell 4 Maddie Zappala 5 Kate Merlie 6 Rachel Thompson 7 Dana Hart 8 Patty Walton. Subs: Dallas Robinson for Rachel Thompson.
Next: Saturday and Sunday April 16 and 17, 2011 at The Beast of the East Tournament in Portsmouth, R.I. First game at 9:40 am versus UConn Women and second game at 1:50 pm versus Yale Women.
Vassar College Women "B" 19 v UMass., Amherst Women "B" 5
Tries: Celia Castellan (1) and Julia Maltby (2).
Cons: Julia Maltby (2).
Maybe this squad was inspired by the "A" side performance or perhaps it was that Vassar's President Cappy Hill came out to watch her Brewers, in any event they turned on the style and played an outstanding match to run out winners 19-5.
The forwards laid a solid platform and the novice centers Julia Maltby and Kerrin Poole always looked dangerous with the ball in hand. Flyhalf Natalie Ward had hands like flypaper and took the ball at pace setting her backs off with good distribution. It didn't look like a "B" side game as there was good shape and execution.
Maltby is a raw talent and she has much to learn, most importantly how to look after the ball in contact. But she proved a strong and awkward runner for the UMass defense as she scored 2 tries to help the Brewers to this good win.
Mia Fermindoza really shone with some good passing and running. But the hit of the entire day was made by Vassar's Manola Fortun when she came up at the kick-off and stopped the UMass ball carrier dead in her tracks with a thumping tackle. The crowd to a man winced and cheered for the rookie who also showed in Barbados that she's got dance moves!
All in all it was a very good day at the office for the Brewers for the men had won the first match of the afternoon beating R.P.I. 41-22.
Team: 15 Naomi Dann 14 Celia Castellan 13 Kerrin Poole 12 Julia Maltby 11 Emma Elbaum 10 Natalie Ward 9 Mia Fermindoza 1 Rachel Thompson 2 Maddie Little 3 Manola Fortun 4 Sandy Pogarcic 5 Nada Mohamed 6 Jansyn Thaw 7 Addie Provenzano 8 Patty Walton.
