POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 29, 2012) - A flooded field meant that Fairfield graciously agreed to travel to Vassar for the Tri-State Conference game. It kicked-off on time and the Brewers proceeded to take full advantage of the home field. With dry conditions and a firm surface they scored five tries, kicked four conversions and added three penalty goals to win in convincing style. But it wasn't all plain sailing for the home team.

Vassar College 42 v 18 Fairfield University
Tries: Akeel St. Vil (1), Karl Foley (1), Jerry Diedonne (1), Jehan
Shams (1) & Jesse Myhill (1).
Cons: Nick Graham (4).
Pens: Nick Graham (3).

After just three minutes of play Vassar flyhalf Akeel St. Vil slipped through the Fairfield defense for a try after some nice phases of play
from the Vassar team. Fairfield put in a number of good head-on tackles throughout the match but in the early exchanges Vassar was able to get over the gain line. A penalty goal from Nick Graham gave Vassar a nice cushion with a score of 10-0.

Vassar monopolized the ball and kept making inroads that caused the visitors problems but Fairfield consistently put in big tackles. The encouraging sign for the Brewers was that they did not seem rattled but just went about the business of winning rucks.

Outstanding for Vassar was the ball carrying of Andrew Jdaydani. He did not score any tries today but he was at the heart and soul of all
that was good about the go forward of the team and composure when placing the ball. He was well complimented by a pack of forwards who are still to fire on all cylinders and need to improve their timing and speed to rucks, but they were effective enough on this fall afternoon.

The second Vassar try was a result of some inspiration from Karl Foley who seems to be enjoying the number nine role. He nipped around a ruck, stepped off his left leg and then showed the defense a clean pair of heels to score under the posts. The first half also saw Nick Graham kick two more penalty goals and at the interval Vassar led 23-3.

Last year Fairfield had been down 20-3 and ran out eventual winners 43-34 so there was no way the Brewers could rest on their laurels.

The first 20 minutes or so of the second half was a scrappy affair and Vassar just could not keep hold of the ball. They had the opportunity
to maintain possession but knock-ons and silly mistakes allowed Fairfield to get back into the game. The Fairfield team definitely
felt that they had a point to prove and ran with their usual conviction and it paid dividends. A try to make it 23-8 was followed by another as Vassar began to fall off tackles and turn the ball over. At 23-13 it was a close affair and had the kicks been successful it would have been a 1 score game. Perhaps Fairfield was thinking deja-vu but the tide was turned following a scrum in the Fairfield 22. Jdaydani fed right wing Dieudonne and it was 30-13 once Nick Graham had struck the conversion kick.

Fairfield did did score another try but that was not before Vassar had added their fourth when hooker Jehan Shams ran around a ruck to delight the home crowd. 37-13 became 37-18 and the Brewers finished with a lovely try as left wing Jesse Myhill was put over when Alan Kenney decided to make a rare pass.

The Vassar players must start to push themselves now and improve on their tackling and running. The good news is that competition is there at all positions and with a couple of players coming back from injury it will up the ante.

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

Next: Sunday October 7, 2012 at Molloy College kick-off 12:00 pm
Overall record: 4-0-0.

Vassar JV battle hard but come up just short. The Vassar College JV XV jumped ahead of their Connecticut counterparts to lead this game 17-0 and really should have put this baby to bed and turned the light off. But all credit to Fairfield as they rallied and not only got back into the contest but they eventually took the lead winning by the narrow margin of 2 points.

Vassar College Men “B” 22 v 24 Fairfield University Men “B”
Tries: Eli Vargas (1), Alan Hagins (1), Brian Heil (1), & Alex Voynow (1).
Cons: Riley McCabe (1).

The opening stanza was very pretty to watch as the forwards went to work running good lines and getting in behind the Fairfield defense.
Max Astruc really is a tricky customer in both the set piece and loose. His lineout work is exemplary and he stole numerous Fairfield
throws that should have meant him being on the winning side. He also tackled well and ran with guile. Alex Voynow scored for the Brewers in the first half and is another hard working forward. Vassar was able to establish some pattern and it meant that the Fairfield backs were caught out of position leading to tries from three of the Vassar backs.

But at half time with a 17-0 lead the Brewers could only add one more try and that was not enough as Fairfield's speedy outside backs got involved in the action.

But throughout this was an exciting game to watch as the teams traded attacking punches and given the general level of experience all are to be commended for their efforts. The backs looked dangerous with ball in hand and Alan Hagins might have had more tries if he had stretched the defense a couple of times while Kenta Hasui continues to impress. Jake Sheehy is a gem of a player and a scrumhalf for the future. Yes, his service needs work and his game management has to improve but his instincts are good and he is as brave a lad as there is on a rugby field. Riley McCabe at 10 showed good hands and distribution and once he is fully fit will be even more of a threat.

Fairfield clawed their way back in to the game but it was more a case of missed tackles than loss of defensive shape that was the root of Vassar's problems. The open field running from the Fairfield players was elusive and strong and it led to the home team's demise.

Brian Heil scored a lovely try showing courage and quick wits as he was tackled just short but not held. Eli Vargas had a solid game at 12 but was at a bit of a loss when moved to 10 but that is understandable and part of his rugby education.

In the last minutes of the game the Brewers took a quick tap penalty when they might have opted for a kick at goal which would have given them, if successful, a one point win. We learn by our mistakes and will be the better for them!

Team: 15 Roman Kopit 14 Kenta Hasui 13 Brian Heil 12 Eli Vargas 11
David Kim 10 Riley McCabe 9 Jake Sheehy 1 Adam D'Agostino 2 Alex
Voynow 3 Parker Reeves 4 Roman Kopit 5 Zach Rippe 6 Max Astruc 7 John
Loree 8 Jonathan Chu. Subs: Louis Khourey for Zach Rippe, John Winton
for Adam D'Agostino, Matt Montgomery for John Loree, Matt Brown or
Jonathan Chu, Zach Kudman for Parker Reeves, Eric Santacruz for Alex
Voynow, Josh Bruce for David Kim, Stoddard Meigs for Brian Heil,
Justin Nam for Kenta Hasui.