POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 24, 2012) -- The Vassar College women's rugby team hosted the Eagles of Boston College and just like the men in the morning game, got off to a great start scoring in the first five minutes. Boston had travelled without some key starters as their seniors generally don't play in the spring but the Vassar Women paid no never mind and put their foot on the gas! The Brewers scored 10 tries of which 9 came from the back division and the result was never in doubt.

Vassar College Women 56 v 0 Boston College Women
Tries: O'Mara Taylor (2), Dallas Robinson (1), Julia Maltby (1), Margaret Kwateng (4), Laura Howard (1), Addie Provenzano (1).
Cons: O'Mara Taylor (3).

Boston College plays in Division I in New England and last fall they went 5-1-1, losing only to Army. The Vassar Women were still smarting from the thumping that they got from Norwich University Women in November and were up for this game. Laura Howard and Patty Walton returned to the lineup having been away studying abroad last fall and Julia Maltby was moved to the left wing. Otherwise it was pretty much the same lineup that earned Vassar a second place finish in the Northeast.

Vassar had to commit forwards to the rucks as Boston attempted to slow down possession and it didn't allow them to get into their attacking pattern easily. But the Vassar halfbacks, Kwateng and Bober, distributed well enough and found the strike runners. Howard looked strong and made a couple of crunching tackles. Maltby seemed more comfortable on the wing and generally beat her opposite number and Addie Provenzano was very good on the counter-attack.

O'Mara Taylor scored the first try after a number of phases as the Vassar forwards rumbled with all 8 punching over the gain line. The ball was moved to the blindside two passes and she skinned the BC left wing on the outside. Dallas Robinson, who is quitely finding her form after injury last fall, charged down a BC clearance kick and dived on the ball for a well deserved try. Then Maltby did well to score Vassar's third try and it was 15-0.

Behind a good pack, scrumhalf Margaret Kwateng, showed why she is a select side level player. She darted, she passed, she linked with forwards and backs and finished the day with 4 tries!

There is still a lot of work for this squad to do as the short spring season progresses but it was good to get back to hard contact and winning ways.

Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 O'Mara Taylor 13 Chelsea Boccagno 12 Laura Howard 11 Julia Maltby 10 Hannah Bober 9 Margaret Kwateng 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Alyssa Bell 3 Shanaye Williams 4 Sandy Pogarcic 5 Maddie Zapalla 6 Dallas Robinson 7 Meg Slattery 8 Nicole Guererro.
Subs: Rachel Thompson for Shanaye Williams, Patty Walton for Sandy Pogarcic.

Vassar College Women "B" 24 v 5 Boston College Women "B"
Tries: Emma Redden (1), Rachel Thompson (1), Emma Kading (1), Gavriella Kaplan (1).
Cons: Gavriella Kaplan (2).

This game was a real treat to watch! The Vassar "B" side showed real shape and no small measure of enthusiasm. The forwards rucked well and tackled strongly limiting BC possession and stopping them when they did get any ball. Yael Schwartz gave good service to Gavy Kaplan at 10 who in turn was a real live-wire. When she runs she's like a gnat on a log, here one moment and there the next, and at times resembled a pinball as she bounced off tacklers! The backs outside her also ran well and Emma Redden and Emma Elbaum gained valuable yards.

Unfortunately, Hannah Fink had to leave the field for she would likely have scored given the amount of ball that was worked wide. Naomi Dann moved to fullback and the team continued to play well. Rachel Thompson played her heart out and ran until she could barely move. Claire Ashley played hooker and did admirably for a first outing. Emma Kading scored a try in her debut game and made a couple of good tackles.

The Vassar Women finished the day with a total of 80 points scored and just 1 try conceded.

Team: 15 Hannah Fink 14 Naomi Dann 13 Emma Elbaum 12 Emma Redden 11 Mia Chatterjee 10 Gavriella Kaplan 9 Yael Schwartz 1 Rachel Thompson 2 Claire Ashley 3 Sophia Rutkin 4 Sandy Pogarcic 5 Julia McGill 6 Emma Kading 7 Patty Walton 8 Anna Carias. Subs: Tamasha Persaud for Hannah Fink, Nicole Guerrero for Naomi Dann.