The Battle of Poughkeepsie – Vassar v Marist
In the corresponding game last Fall Vassar defeated their local rivals 34-12 and faced them the following week in the Tri-State Championship game with a Nationals spot on the line. The Brewers won a tense affair, at the neutral venue of Fairfield University, 11-5. In that game Vassar freshman Seamus Taylor went over for what looked a certain try only to have the ball knocked out as he rounded to go under the posts! Taylor, now a year older and apparently wiser, made amends at Vassar Farm today.
 
Vassar College Men 39 v 14 Marist College Men
Tries: Joe Simon (2), Kenta Hasui (1), Seamus Taylor (1), Nich Graham (1), Jake Sheehy (1).
Cons: Nich Graham (3).
Pens. Nich Graham (1).
 
This game always promises to be a hard-hitting affair and that's exactly what both teams served up on a blustery fall afternoon. Luckily, only a few minutes of rain fell and the spectators enjoyed a 8-try contest with Vassar having the lion's share with 6.
 
The score at the end of the first half was 10-7 with each team scoring a single try. Vassar's Nich Graham slotted an early penalty kick that earned Vassar a 3-0 edge before Marist went up 7-3. But the possession and territory statistics heavily favored the home team. Vassar wasted a golden opportunity right at the end of the first half when just inches from the Marist goal-line players became over eager, but for the most part they had demonstrated some decent shape in attack.
 
The Marist try followed a scrum on the right where the visitors went blind and after a 3 rucks they spun the ball wide to the left. The Vassar defensive line actually looked to have thwarted the attack but they failed to stop a couple of offloads and the Marist left wing sprinted over. On the one hand it was good to see the defenders in the right places but on the other hand it was disturbing that the danger was not stopped.
 
Marist was under pressure in the scrums and the loose so they resorted to kicking the ball away. It proved a poor decision and freshman Joe Simon was to be the beneficiary scoring a brace of tries and having a couple of good counter-attacks. It was following one of these ill-advised kicks, a short chip, that Simon scored. Nich Graham took the ball up after Vassar had gained possession and then Simon showed up at first receiver. The California native, who tries to outrun the rays of the sun on account of his fair complexion, burst around the Marist defense and gave Vassar the lead. The Brewers would not relinquish it again.
 
The work of Erik Quinson in the lineouts and all over the field and Kenta Hasui in defense was exemplary. Adam D'Agostino was also strong at the ruck and the forwards began to win cleaner ball for Jake Sheehy at halfback. Hasui was alert when a ball popped out of a scrum and he wrong-footed the Marist right wing to score in the corner. Hasui probably can thank his days in the center for that try and Vassar led 15-7.
 
The next try was following a desperate kick from Marist. Joe Simon fielded the ball, sliced up the middle, and then linked to a supporting Seamus Taylor. Sophomore Taylor had only one thing on his mind…. redemption! He blasted on to the ball and as he left the Marist defense for dead he turned into the in-goal and judiciously grounded the ball to make it 20-7.
 
At 20-7 Marist was still very much in the game as far as the score-line but the wealth of possession and the fact that Vassar was able to make line-breaks told a different story.
 
But the Red Foxes mounted a brave attack and with some strong individual runs they managed to get to the Vassar 5-meter line. However, a knock-on gave the put-in to Vassar at the ensuing scrum. Approximately 30 seconds later Marist was down 27-7 as Vassar had scored a length of the field try. Taylor was a major factor with a strong line-break and the ball was eventually worked to Simon who scored his second try.
 
Flyhalf Nich Graham and scrumhalf Jake Sheehy had taken a number of knocks as they distributed the ball all afternoon so it was very fitting that they ran in the next 2 tries. In between Marist had an interception that gave them their second try but it was small consolation as Sheehy had the last word.
 
The Vassar forwards still need to improve their rucking and the backs must hold on to the ball and not get turned over. Minimizing giving the ball to the opposition is key and generating quick ball essential.
 
Next week it's win or go home for the Brewers as they commence the Conference playoffs.
 
Vassar is the number 1 seed in the Conference North Division and will play at home, Vassar College Farm, on Sunday October 26^th with a 1:00 pm kickoff scheduled.
 
The Brewers will face Molloy College or New Jersey Institute of Technology with the former being the more likely opponent. It's time to cut out the turnovers and be more consistent.
 
Team: 15 Joe Simon 14 Steven Juca 13 Jacob Adelgren 12 Seamus Taylor 11 Jesse Myhill 10 Nich Graham 9 Jake Sheehy 1 Adam D'Agostino 2 Alex Voynow 3 John Winton 4 John Loree 5 Louis Khourey 6 Kenta Hasui 7 Erik Quinson 8 Geoff Matthes.
 
Record: 6-1
 
Next week: Saturday October 26^th, 2014 kick-off 1:00 p.m. at Vassar College Farm.
Conference Quarterfinal
Opponent: Molloy College or N.J.I.T.

-Head Coach Tony Brown