NEW HAVEN, CT (April 6, 2013) - The early morning start to this game in New Haven, on Yale University's beautiful rugby field, did not phase the Vassar Women a bit as they notched up 12 tries to brush aside their Division I Ivy League opponents. It would be a disservice to not credit the Yale Women with a strong effort particularly in the first half and in defense. The Bulldogs tackled continuously but found the Vassar Women in determined mood. None more so than Shanaye Williams who put on a clinic scoring 4 tries as she sprinted around, through, and over would be Yale tacklers leaving a trail of destruction in her wake and sometimes other items! 

Vassar College Women 64 v 7 Yale University Women
Tries: Shanaye Williams (4), Laura Howard (2), Nicole Guererro (1), Darienne Jones (1), Hannah Fink (1), Cierra Thomas (1), Nichelle Jackson (1), & Meg Slattery (1).
Cons: Meg Slattery (2).

In the first half Vassar scored 4 tries and had been threatened a couple of times when Yale showed some good individual effort and broke away. But all the signs were present to indicate a comfortable victory. First and foremost the Vassar scrum was rock solid and on a number of occasions the Vassar 8 drove Yale off their own ball. Secondly, Meg Slattery was making a real nuisance of herself at the lineout stealing or disrupting the Yale throw. And thirdly, in the loose the Vassar rucking was effective. All these 3 areas were indicative of ample possession and good go-forward quality ball.

Shanaye Williams used some fearsome fends and fast feet to score tries one and four. Fullback Laura Howard, who is enjoying something of a twilight era in her last semester of rugby at Vassar, split the defense and went over for try number two. There was also that woman Nicole Guererro who shone brightly at Number 8 giving the Brewers a half time lead of 22-0.

Yale probably felt that they had done quite well and with a tad of luck they might have been closer when one big line break went about 60 yards. But there was nothing that could prepare them for the onslaught in the second half. Williams smashed and bashed her way forward, Nichelle Jackson was another part of this hard running combo and all the forwards picked and hit rucks quicker and with more determination. The battered and bruised Yale defense could only absorb so much and 22 points soon became 27, then 32, and then 37.

Try number 6 was a real peach. Darienne Jones scored it but the movement had covered over 50 yards, multiple phases, and a couple of lovely offloads. Kudos to all but in particular Laura Howard and Hannah Fink. The Vassar Women will look back on this try with great pride. If that try raised eyebrows then Shanaye Williams almost brought the house down when she went charging through only to be tackled, and please forgive the pun, briefly! But she quickly made some adjustments and play continued albeit with the crowd doubled over with laughter!

Vassar range the changes in the second half and was also without regular starters Dallas Robinson and Chelsea Boccagno but the die was cast and more scores followed. One Vassar parent was overheard describing the game as a "Vassacre!"

It was good to see center Cierra Thomas finally get a try for the team. She has run with real heart and determination this spring and is starting to look very comfortable in the back division.

At 37-0 Yale broke through the Vassar defensive line and scored a converted try making the margin 30 points. It was the closest point spread since the start of the game.

Team: 15 Laura Howard 14 Hannak Fink 13 Tamasha Persaud 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Marissa Davis 10 Hannah Bober 9 Yael Schwartz 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Rachel Thompson 3 Shanaye Williams 4 Sophia Rutkin 5 Darienne Jones 6 Patty Walton 7 Meg Slattery 8 Nicole Guerrero. Subs: Sandy Pogarcic for Sophia Rutkin, Claire Oxford for Darienne Jones, Mia Chatterjee for Tamasha Persaud, Leigh Yakubowski for Hannah Fink, Nora Kaye for Rachel Thompson.

Next: Sunday April 14, 2013 versus Drew University Women, in Poughgkeepsie, NY kick-off 2:00 p.m.
Overall record 2012-13: 8-4-1.