PISCATAWAY, NJ (November 3, 2012) - Under the lights at Rutger's University, the Vassar Women started with real purpose and energy which led to a 39-29 victory. There was effort aplenty and even when pegged back and down by two points, having led convincingly, they regrouped and won. However, the result makes this look very much like the season that could have been. Earlier losses to Binghamton and Marist mean that the fall is done for the Brewers and Rutger's will be going to the playoffs.

Vassar College Women 39 v 29 Rutger's University Women
Tries: Nicole Guererro (1), Shanaye Williams (2), Dallas Robinson (1),
Nichelle Jackson (2), and Chelsea Boccagno (1).
Cons: Hannah Bober (2).

Vassar's Dallas Robinson caught the opening kick-off, fended off the first tackler, and the forwards piled into the first ruck. Moments later, Shanaye Williams did the same as she picked and pushed off the first tackler making good yards up the field. It sent an early message that the Vassar forwards were not to be messed with on a chilly but bone dry fall evening. At the first scrum the Rutger's number nine was caught in possession by Yael Schwartz and Meg Slattery and although she would have a good night, she was kept under pressure by the rucking and scrummaging of the Vassar forwards.

It was just as well that Vassar was able to win plenty of possession because Rutgers has an excellent halfback partnership. The flyhalf is a balanced runner and good kicker who showed moments of real pace and penetration scoring one outstanding try for the home team.

But the first try of the night was scored by Nicole Guererro, the Vassar Number eight who continues to play impressively week in and week out. The Vassar backs broke through when Hannah Bober passed to fullback Hannah Fink. The Vassar 15 broke a tackle and went about 20 yards before being brought down. A few phases later Guererro sliced through and Vassar led 5-0.

Vassar caught the restart and Robinson spun out of a tackle and went 30 yards to get Vassar on the front foot. A knock-on spelt no relief for Rutger's as Vassar's Emma Elbaum stole the ball against the head. Elbaum had a good night running well and in the scrum until she had to come off with what may be a knee ligament injury. It meant Vassar had to shuffle the pack with Sophia Rutkin moving to hooker and rookie Darienne Jones going into the second row.

Robinson was twisting and running well and the rucking was fast so Vassar held the ball pretty much until Williams went over from close range and the Brewers led 10-0. However, from a scrum about 35 yards out on the 15 meter line Rutger's won the ball and their evasive flyhalf just ran around two defenders to score under the posts and it was 10-7.

But Vassar had plenty of self-belief based on their good start and two tries to show for their efforts.  They had to keep the ball in hand and limit the number of possessions for the home team. They did just that and marched forward with Guererro picking up from a scum and running right over the Rutger's flyhalf before Hannah Fink made a big run. The forwards picked next with Shanaye Williams sprinting over stiff-arming defenders as she went. Vassar now led 15-7.

Rutger's had not really had that much possession and Vassar maintained their shape with good rucking, strong running, and after a period of
ten minutes Robinson scored to make it 22-7 after Bober's conversion. Rutger's responded and despite a try saving tackle by Tamasha Persaud on the right the ball was moved to the other side and the Rutger's wing went over. So it was 22-12 after 40 minutes.

Rutger's were fortunate to score next as a blatant forward pass allowed their left wing to scoot over. The try had come after a period of play that included two cross-field kicks, the kick-pass as it has come to be known, and it was now 22-17. It was worrying for the Brewers as they now found themselves only one score ahead. From the restart after a couple of rucks the Rutger's number 10 exploited a gap and ran 60 yards to put the Scarlet Knights in the lead 24-22.

Vassar tightened up their game and kept the ball close. They struggled with the Rutger's players slowing the ball down at the ruck as they tended not to roll away but in the end Nichelle Jackson scored the next two tries after extensive forward picks. Vassar had some breathing space with a 34-24 lead. But the battle raged on with hard rucking and hard running winning out as Vassar kept pounding the fringes. Rutger's tackled and tackled but they rarely got good quality ball and although both teams traded tries in the final ten minutes the ten-point winning margin was maintained. Chelsea Boccagno scored for the Brewers and the whole team had given their all for this good win.

Team: 15 Hannah Fink 14 Tamasha Persaud 13 Cierra Thomas 12 Chelsea
Boccagno 11 Nora Kaye 10 Hannah Bober 9 Yael Schwartz 1 Nichelle
Jackson 2 Emma Elbaum 3 Shanaye Williams 4 Patty Walton 5 Sophia
Rutkin 6 Dallas Robinson 7 Meg Slattery  8 Nicole Guererro.  Subs:
Darienne Jones for Emma Elbaum.

Overall record: 4-3-1.

Next: Spring Season 2013.