ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY (October 7, 2012) - The Vassar College men's rugby team pulled out a 33-28 win against Molloy College to continue their unbeaten season Sunday afternoon.

On a chilly and wet field, the home team fell behind 19-7. They showed plenty of fight and enthusiasm to get close at 14-19 but Vassar pulled away again to lead 33-14 and it looked like the wind had gone from the Molloy sails. But the Lions rallied yet again and made this a grandstand finish scoring twice but running out of time as Vassar improved to 5-0-0.

Vassar College Men 33 v 28 Molloy College Men
Tries: Joe Karpman (1), Andrew Jdaydani (1), Jerry Dieudonne (1),
Akeel St. Vil (1), Parker Reeves (1).
Cons: Nick Graham (4).

The kick-off was delayed 30 minutes as the referee was caught in traffic, then the rain started to fall, and the field was the minimum
width for a conference game - horribly narrow.  It was a less than ideal build-up for the visiting Vassar team but they started well enough. In fact, they led 19-0 and had created a number of other good scoring chances. But knock-ons and silly penalties prevented them from being further ahead. The penalties and knock-ons were to plague the Vassar team throughout the game and they allowed Molloy to come right back into the contest.

After 20 minutes it seemed like the 19-point lead would be built on but Molloy scored a good try when they kicked ahead and their speedy right wing got the ball on the bounce to scoot in under the posts. Vassar had opened their account with a Joe Karpman try after some solid phases of play. The Vassar scrum looked solid and they drove some lineouts but the rucks were constantly slowed down as Molloy tacklers failed to roll away. Andrew Jdaydani scored from a scrum and Jerry Dieudonne went through and dove on a loose ball after it had been kicked ahead. So 19-7 seemed a fair representation given the slippery conditions and knock-ons.

The Molloy lineout was another source of concern as they placed two players in the lineout (anchors) with three players in the receiver
position! It was not penalized because the referee felt that the overall number was known and two of the three players would then move into the lineout and play would continue. It seemed a clear case of changing the numbers in the lineout so a reading of the law book will be on the agenda as well as a note to the referee society to clarify matters.

The second half bore witness to some short periods of good Vassar play but also, worryingly, to a host of penalties by the Brewers. Entering rucks from the side and not getting away from the ball on the ground cost them dear. The team lost what should have been a very firm grip on the game and Molloy kept chasing the win. The Lions were dangerous in broken play and Vassar had to make tackles but they slipped off a few and it was game on!

Akeel St. Vil had a tough day at the office but did manage to score an important try. The backs as a whole dropped too many passes and should have put this game beyond doubt in the first half.

There were plenty of exciting moments none more so than when flanker Alan Kenney had to sprint back in defense to get to a ball that had been kicked through along the ground. The Molloy wing was away but Kenney drew up alongside and then passed him to fall on the ball and avert a try.

The team needs to demonstrate that it can establish and impose itself not just for some of the time but the majority of the game.

A huge thank you is owed to Vassar Rugby Alum, Thom Szymanski, who treated the entire squad to burgers and pizza at his home just a few miles from Molloy College. Thom has been back in the USA having been away for the past two years working in the Peace Corps in Benin. It was great to see him and catch-up. Charlie Williams this is part of your legacy!

Team: 15 Nick Graham 14 Jerry Dieudonne 13 Elliot Baker 12 Zach Kent
11 Ben Chipkin 10 Akeel St. Vil 9 Karl Foley 1 Joe Karpman 2 Jehan
Shams 3 Dan Flynn 4 Ian Ruginski 5 Tom Rafferty 6 Parker Reeves 7 Alan
Kenney 8 Andrew Jdaydani.

Overall record: 5-0-0.

Next weekend: Sunday October 14, 2012 Vassar College Men versus Stony
Brook Men at Vassar College Farm - Kick-off 1:00 pm.

Conference standings: http://www.tristaterugby.com

Vassar College Men “B” 26 v 12 Molloy College Men
Tries: Louis Khourey (1), Jake Sheehy (1), Brian Heil (1), Alan Hagins (1).
Cons: Riley McCabe (3).

This was a good win for the Vassar Rugby squad. Not only did they score four tries but they showed a lot of shape and style allied to basic commitment skills. The winning of rucks was critical and it enabled Jake Sheehy to run the show from the base of the rucks. He was well complimented by flyhalf Riley McCabe who had a strong game getting his back division moving. There is plenty of pace with Vargas, Heil, and Hagins so when put into space they made the most of their opportunities.

The forward battle was won by Vassar and when Louis Khourey dived over for the first try it was thoroughly deserved. Matt Brown was his usual active self and he will hopefully continue to improve as he made good tackles. Alex Voynow's experience paid dividends as he stole ball, ran well, and it was from a long run of his in the second half that led to a Vassar try. Jonathan Chu had a much better performance this week and Max Astrux continues to impress.

Sheehy scored the second try behind a strong forward surge from just five yards out and Vassar led 12-0 at the half. Outside center, Brian Heil, scored a lovely try in the second half with his sister watching from the touchline. He also showcased a pirouette earlier, wrong-footing two defenders that would have made the VRDT proud!

The Vassar defense was sound as exemplified by Josh Bruce who brought down the tricky Molloy outside center with a good textbook tackle.

Finally, it was very satisfying to see Alan Hagins at fullback catch everything and run so directly. He scored a try and so there might just be a lesson for him in this performance.

Team: 15 Alan Hagins 14 Kenta Hasui 13 Brian Heil 12 Eli Vargas 11
Stoddard Meigs 10 Riley McCabe 9 Jake Sheehy 1 John Winton 2 Alex
Voynow 3 John Loree 4 Louis Khourey 5 Jonathan Chu 6 Max Astrux 7 Matt
Brown 8 Roman Kopit. Subs: Josh Bruce for Kenta Hasui, Wade Crouch for
Stoddard Meigs, Justin Nam for Wade Crouch, Eric Santacruz for Max
Astrux, Matt Montgomery for John Loree, Zach Rippe for Matt Brown,
Zach Kudman for Louis Khourey.