POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 4, 2012) - The Vassar College men's rugby team loss to local opponent Marist College 12-7 but will still host their semifinal and the final championship game for the Tri-State Conference.

It was a match-up to die for with Vassar number one in the standings versus Marist number two. Last year Vassar won 29-20 and on a cold but dry day at the Farm the game played out to a dramatic finale. Vassar led 7-0 until late in the second half when Marist tied it up 7-7 and then in the final minute Marist scored in the corner to earn the victory. The Red Foxes enter the playoffs as the number one seed while Vassar are number two now and the Brewers will play Fairfield University next Sunday hoping for a re-match.

Vassar College Men 7 v 12 Marist College Men
Tries: Jerry Dieudonne (1).
Cons: Nick Graham (1).

Vassar dominated Marist for the majority of the first half and in fact the visitors only entered the Vassar half on a few occasions and the bulk of playing time was in the Marist 22. So hats off to the visitors for defending resolutely and limiting Vassar to a single try converted by Nick Graham. The score itself was simple enough with Jerry Dieudonne going around his opposite number on the right wing.

But Vassar had squandered a couple of excellent chances earlier and Nick Graham was off target on the day missing a couple of very kickable penalty goals. It didn't help matters that they also opted to run a penalty right in front of the posts that would have given them a 3-0 lead. As it turned out points were at a premium and it was a poor decision.

The Vassar first half was littered with knock-ons and poor passes. Only a closer look at the video will explain whether it was poor ball placement, poor technique, or miss-timed running. In any event the Brewers failed to get any true rhythm leading to points.

It was an absorbing contest with the big Marist pack trying to establish it's physical presence and the Vassar team moving the ball to open areas to attack. So the team's turned around after 40 minutes with Vassar ahead 7-0.

Marist managed to get more ball in the second half and they took a direct approach but the game was very much played between the 22s. Unlike the first half, when Vassar had monopolized the ball and territory, in the second half Marist were more effective. Marist turned over a ball at a ruck and ran strongly picking and running to go over and they tied the game up.

Vassar struggled to win ruck ball and was frustrated by the runners retreating between nine and ten but they also had a couple of forays into
the Marist 22 that once again were thwarted. Neither team seemed to have another score in them but in the last 30 seconds Marist caught the Vassar defense off-guard and slipped through a gap linking with players on the outside to get the winning try.

So the regular season is over now and it's win or go home. Vassar face number three Fairfield University next Sunday in the conference semifinal. They will need to be a lot better with their passing, rucking, and tackling if they want a re-match on November 18th.

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

Overall record: 6-1-0.

Next weekend: Sunday November 11, 2012 Vassar College Men versus
Fairfield University Men at Vassar College Farm - Kick-off 1:00 pm.

Vassar College Men “B” 12 v 20 Marist College Men “B”
Tries: Roman Kopit (1) & Eli Vargas (1).
Cons: Riley McCabe (1).

There was plenty to watch in the “B” game as the evergreen Roman Kopit and Jonathan Chu led the team in a back and forth contest against Marist “B”. The visitors modeled their “A” side counter-parts and got on the score sheet with two tries before Vassar replied through Kopit. In fact it had taken  a whole half before Vassar scored but at 10-7 prospects were good for a win.

Stunned Marist came storming back and despite some good open field tackles they went up again. Vassar fullback Alan Hagins was impressive with his catching and running putting in a strong performance. Jake Sheehy still has much to learn but no one will ever question his attitude and character. He is a threat from anywhere on the field and tackles anything that moves.

Marist edged ahead 15-7 but Vassar battled back when Eli Vargas scored a good try but the visitors had the last word. A Marist try made it 20-12 and the game ended with both teams pretty bruised.

Team: 15 Alan Hagins 14 Kenta Hasui 13 Stoddard Meigs 12 Eli Vargas 11
Hayden Moon 10 Riley McCabe 9 Jake Sheehy 1 John Winton 2 Eric
Santacruz 3 Adam D'Agostino 4 John Loree 5 Roman Kopit 6 Max Astrux 7
Zach Kudman 8 Jonathan Chu. Subs: Josh Bruce for Kenta Hasui, Justin
Nam for Hayden Moon, Justin Riley for Eric Santacruz, Zach Rippe for
John Winton, Louis Khourey for Zach Kudman, Hayden Moon for Justin
Riley.