POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 14, 2012) - Vassar took on a Stony Brook University XV in a 31-11 win with playing not their full "A" side, at the Farm since the latter also had a bye week from Conference play. On a beautiful sunny fall afternoon the Brewers managed to score five tries and probably did not feel as if they were ever going to lose the game, but passages of good play were fleeting rather than the norm.

Vassar College Men 31 v 11 Stony Brook University Men XV
Tries: Akeel St. Vil (2), Jehan Shams (2) & Ian Ruginski (1).
Cons: Nick Graham (3).

The Brewers started brightly and went through a number of phases and although Stony Brook defended well, Vassar flyhalf Alkeel St. Vil slipped through to put the home team ahead, 5-0.  The score stayed that way for another 20 minutes with Vassar putting together some phases but not hitting a home run, as Stony Brook ran directly and to good purpose getting back in to the contest.

Vassar scored a good try following a Stony Brook clearance kick that was fielded by fullback Nick Graham. He linked with his wings and from the next ruck Jehan Shams sprinted through a hole in the defense and with Graham's conversion it was 12-0.

But even though Vassar scored a third try when Ian Ruginski went over following a good forward drive, they kept making mistakes that allowed Stony Brook back in to the game. Karl Foley took too long to take tap penalties – turnovers! A couple of knock-ons in the back division – turnovers! Entering the ruck from the side – turnovers! This is not the kind of consistency that will win close games.

The flashes of good play included a yeoman like effort from Andrew Jdaydani, some good moments from the flankers Kenney and Placeres. In the backs Nick Graham had a good day catching everything sent his way although the kicks were straight to him. It was good to see Zach Kent and Ben Chipkin look after the ball and the back three counter-attacked together.

But the set piece scrum creaked and groaned all game long. It was almost impossible to get a steady platform as it wheeled or was shunted back. This has to show improvement if the Brewers are to progress this year.

At the half it was 17-0 but Stony Brook came out at pace in the first 10 minutes of the second half and earned good field position. They got on the scoreboard with a penalty goal to make it 17-3 and it put Vassar on the back foot. Fortunately, the Vassar lineout was functioning well and provided a steady supply of ball. Ironically, the Stony Brook scrum was having the exact same problem as Vassar – it would wheel and clean ball was not available for the SBU backs. It led to a progression of scrums and made for poor viewing. Jehan Shams collected his second try as the score went from 17-3 to 24-3, and then, after SBU had scored a try and a penalty, it was 24-11. The stop start nature of the second half was very pestering for both teams. Vassar scored their fifth try when Stony Brook was pressured and threw a pass into their in-goal where Akeel St. Vil pounced to make it 31-11.

The Brewers must set higher standards for themselves and establish greater consistency with their game management. It was their undoing last year and they have yet to show that they can control a game for the full 80 minutes.

Next weekend it is back to conference opposition with Hofstra visiting the Farm. They have usually provided a number of strong running individuals and a direct attack so Vassar must be mentally prepared for a physical encounter.

Team: 15 Nick Graham 14 Jerry Dieudonne 13 Ben Chipkin 12 Zach Kent 11
Jesse Myhill 10 Akeel St. Vil 9 Karl Foley 1 Joe Karpman 2 Jehan Shams
3 Dan Flynn 4 Ian Ruginski 5 Parker Reeves 6 Nic Placeres 7 Alan
Kenney 8 Andrew Jdaydani. Subs: Alex Voynow for Jehan Shams.

Next: Wednesday October 17, 2012 versus Manhattanville College, KO
4:00 pm at Vassar College Farm and Sunday October 21, 2012 versus
Hofstra University at Vassar College Farm kick-off 2:00 pm
Overall record: 6-0-0.

Oh what might have been! Jake Sheehy went over the line only to drop the ball before touching it down. Alex Voynow was inches short and in the end the “B” side lost by a single score! The effort was first class and the team showed some good shape but in the end a few missed tackles allowed the visitors to take the win.

Vassar College Men “B” 5 v 12 Stony Brook University Men “B”
Tries: Brian Heil (1).

Scrumhalf Jake Sheehy is a real live wire. He was born to play scrumhalf as he has pace, a willingness to work hard, and is brave in the tackle. His pass does need a lot of work and given that probably around 70-75 percent of the team's passes are made by him he has to put in the time to get more consistency. But his forwards won enough ball for the Brewers to win this contest and it was only staunch defense by Stony Brook that kept them out. Well, that and the two golden opportunities that went begging.

In the centers Eli Vargas and Brian Heil looked sharp although Heil had a poor start. He more than made up for it when in the second half, with the team down 12-0, he quite literally danced his way under the posts to make it 12-5.

There was a stark contrast to the backs play in each half. Early on Stoddard Meigs at flyhalf was getting caught or delivering passes just a tad too slowly. However, in the second period he managed to speed up his delivery and the centers as well as Alan Hagins at fullback had some very good runs.

Vassar kept the pressure up in the second half as they searched for that try and conversion that would tie the game but alas time ran out.

But the rookies continue to improve and every game is looking sharper and sharper.

Team: 15 Alan Hagins 14 Kenta Hasui 13 Brian Heil 12 Eli Vargas 11
Matt Choe 10 Stoddard Meigs 9 Jake Sheehy 1 John Winton 2 Alex Voynow
3 Adam D'Agostino 4 Roman Kopit 5 Louis Khourey 6 Matt Montgomery 7
Matt Brown 8 Jonathan Chu. Subs: Zach Rippe for Louis Khourey, Eric
Santacruz for Jonathan Chu, Wade Couch for Matt Choe.