POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 24, 2011) -- On a muggy, humid day at the Farm, the Vassar College women's rugby team naively got sucked into a wide game against Rutger's and fell behind 12-5 by halftime. Another try at the start of the second period and Rutger's were seemingly in control. But a change in tactics bore fruit and they very nearly snatched victory eventually going down 24-22. But they will be kicking themselves that they worked so hard and came second on the day.

Vassar College Women 22 v 24 Rutgers University Women
Tries: Margaret Kwateng (2), O'Mara Taylor (1), Addie Provenzano (1).
Cons: O'Mara Taylor (1).

Overall Record: 2-1.

Next week: Sunday Otober 2, 2011 versus Stony Brook University Women at Vassar College Farm, kick-off 1:00 pm 

Rutger's were up for this game as they had lost last year to Vassar in the playoffs. They ran hard pushing the ball wide to good effect, defended the fringes of rucks with numbers, and made some useful kicks to gain territory.

But it was Vassar on the scoreboard first as scrumhalf Margaret Kwateng sliced through a la Keri Peacock. Rutger's stormed back and pressured the Vassar defense moving the ball wide from lineouts and varying their attack with some forward punches. Their try to take the lead resulted from an 8 pick with Margaret Kwateng doing a good job of tackling the 8. The ball was passed to the Rutger's 9 who was taken by Hannah Bober. But Vassar's Julia Maltby checked to help Bober and when the Rutger's 9 passed to her number 10 she was through a large gap. The flyhalf ran well to beat covering wing Nat Ward and fullback Addie Provenzano and scored under the posts. Rutger's led 7-5 and it was a lead that they would never surrender.

The next 20 minutes was a back and forth affair and Vassar was guilty of trying to run around the speedy Rutger's backs. It was an option that took the ball a long way from their forwards and played right into the visitors hands. There was plenty of admirable effort and determined running but too often it led to breakdowns in the attack and no significant gains.

Rutger's scored their second try right on the stroke of halftime after a good period of pressure. From a ruck 10 meters out they switched play down the blindside and found Vassar short of defenders.

The second half bore witness to a whole lot of hard yards! The Vassar forwards won the battle of trench warfare as they picked and drove incessantly and won 17-7. But Rutger's scored 2 tries to maintain their edge and take the match.

It was the visitors who scored first to go up 19-5 and one might have thought they had sealed the win. But no, Vassar rumbled again and again and closed the gap, first to 19-10 after O'Mara Taylor picked from a 5-meter scrum and went over. Then, with 15 minutes left, Addie Provenzano sped down the right flank and scored to make it 19-15.

The big crowd must have thought they were in for a treat as the home fans hoped for a victory. Rutger's again responded and scored to lead 24-15. The Vassar forwards led by Shanaye Williams and Nichelle Jackson kept making inroads and another try following a penalty by Margaret Kwateng made it 22-24. But alas time had run out and Rutger's had earned a good win.

The video will tell the tale of areas to improve and the Vassar players need to ask themselves some hard questions as to how much better they want to be. good news is that in the divisional standings the team did earn 2 bonus points for scoring 4 tries and for being within 7 points. Next week will be a lot of hard work as they seek to get back on track in their division.

Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 Naomi Dann 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 Rachel Harth 5 Sophia Rutkin 6 Maddie Zapalla 7 Sandy Pogarcic 8 O'Mara Taylor.