POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 2, 2013) – It is not often that a team beats two undefeated opponents on back-to-back weekends. Last weekend Vassar defeated Marist 22-5 and the Red Foxes were 6-0. That win set-up the Conference Championship game today against undefeated 7-0 Stony Brook University. The Vassar Women started at a furious pace and looked as if they would take a quick lead but when Stony Brook got their first touch on the ball they went the length of the field to score and lead 7-0. It didn't look good for the home team!

Vassar College Women 22 v 17 Stony Brook University Women
Tries: Anne Fritzson (1), Cierra Thomas (1), Dallas Robinson (1), and Natalie Ward (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (1).

The Tri-State Conference Championship game began under sunny skies and Vassar had a good size crowd on hand. But they faced a confident opponent in the Seawolves who had a dangerous back division. Last weekend Stony Brook defeated the University at Albany 29-12 and given that Vassar had lost a regular season game to Albany 20-5, so not many people were betting on the Brewers chances.

However, science has not yet established how to measure one's desire to win and certainly not the collective desire of this squad of Vassar Rugby Women! Despite falling behind so dramatically, having controlled the first phases of the game, Margaret Kwateng quickly marshaled her teammates and after 10 minutes Vassar had scored to trail by just 2 points, 5-7. It was massively important that Vassar see actual reward for their effort rather than another period of just good effort!

Wing Anne Fritzson has been pretty sick over the past few weeks but it has not dampened her quickness nor her nose for the goal-line. Vassar had seen that what it was doing would produce results and they went about their duty with diligence and ambition.

On defense the tackles were being put in and Kwateng was well complimented by Natalie Ward and Cierra Thomas as they managed to stop the Stony Brook attacks behind the gain line. One would be remiss to not compliment fullback Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild who made a number of monster tackles stopping the flying Stony Brook backs.

In attack, Vassar engineered another couple of tries when Thomas went over after some good controlled phases and Dallas Robinson thundered up field in typical Robinson style. It is wonderful to see Robinson "styling" this Fall. She is playing with such poise and aggression she must be an inspiration to her teammates.

In fact, Vassar's attacking pressure saw them go over the Stony Brook goal line on 3 occasions but they were held-up!

At the end of the first half Vassar managed to produce a goal line stand that maintained their 15-7 lead. They could not have known how important that stop was to the final result.

The second half could not have started better. Vassar got the ball, marched down the field, and scored. Natalie Ward was the scorer and it finished off a lot of good work by the team. Freshman Mary Margaret McElduff slotted the conversion and Vassar led 22-7.

The next 25 minutes was a pretty ugly affair with Vassar unable to really stamp any dominance on the game. They gave away too many penalties that allowed Stony Brook to gain territorial advantage and the scrum inexplicably began to creak. Stony Brook had defended staunchly and they were now being given an opportunity. They scored but missed the conversion and it was 22-12. Time was not on their side but they hurried and as the final couple of minutes approached they scored again. It meant a nervous finish as at 22-17 a converted try would win the game. But the Vassar players had fought too hard to let this one slip away and the referee blew for full time and a Vassar victory.

So, Vassar now have a bye next weekend and advance to the "Sweet 16" round of the American Collegiate Rugby Championship on November 16th, 2013. The hosting site is Vassar College and that will mean the shortest of journey's for the team.

Team: 15 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 14 Anne Fritzson 13 Natalie Ward 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Mary Margaret McElduff 10 Shira Idris 9 Margaret Kwateng 1 Darienne Jones 2 Nathalie Freeman 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Emma Elbaum 5 Rachel Thompson 6 Hannah Fink 7 Meg Slattery 8 Dallas Robinson.  Subs: Kathleen Gould for Nathalie Freeman & Taylor Nunley for Emma Elbaum.

Overall record: 7-2-0.

Next: Saturday November 16th & 17th, 2013 American Collegiate Rugby Championship Round of 16 & Quarterfinals at Vassar College.