POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 26, 2014) - The regular season concluded last weekend and while the Vassar College Men had earned the top spot in the North Division there was a degree of concern that the teams from the south division might be stronger. In addition, preparation had been badly disrupted by the Fall Break and so it was that Vassar took the field with some degree of trepidation.
 
Vassar College Men 41 v 14 Molloy College Men
Tries: Geoff Matthes (1), Joe Simon (3), Louis Khourey (1), Matt Brown (1), & Nich Graham (1).
Cons: Nich Graham (3).

Vassar caught the kick-off and went through 17 phases of play taking the ball from inside their own 22 to the Molloy College 10 meter line. The ball was knocked on but it was clear that Molloy would not compete vigorously at the rucks. Instead the visitors opted to try and poach the ball if an opportunity arose at the tackle.
 
In fact, during the first 20 minutes it was only Vassar turnovers that allowed Molloy to get possession and, unlike the Brewers, they were unable to hold on to the ball for any significant period of time. Vassar's first try came from a scrum 5-meters out when Number 8 Geoff Matthes plunged over from close range. The second came about when a poor clearance kick by the Molloy number 10 was run back by Vassar's Joe Simon. Both  tries were converted by Nich Graham and it was 14-0. Just moments before Jesse Myhill had gone over for what looked a perfectly good try but it was not awarded. The Vassar left wing left his opposite number standing a la Christian Wade!
 
A knock-on and a penalty allowed Molloy to gain some territory but Vassar quickly regained possession and moved up the field. When a Vassar driving lineout was dragged down referee Pearce Mara quite rightly penalized the Molloy forwards and moments later the ball was worked to fullback who got his second and Vassar third try to make it 19-0. Simon would score another giving him a hat trick on the day certainly not a bad day at the office for the freshman.
 
Molloy did put together some forward picks and gained some yards but it was more a case of 2 slow yards and another ruck rather than anything very dynamic. At 19-0 up Vassar went a bit off the boil and it showed because players were receiving the ball in unfamiliar positions or Nich Graham had to hold the ball and not pass.
 
Toward the end of the first half Vassar's Seamus Taylor had to leave the field with what was later to be diagnosed as a fractured fibula. The fullback come center has been having a good season but will now have to wait for the spring to play again.
 
Molloy pressured Vassar when awarded a scrum inside the Vassar 22 and when the ball was moved to the right wing Geoff Matthes made an excellent cover tackle. He then jumped up and initiated a ruck. Center Jacob Adelgren alertly picked up the ball and went from the 5-meter line up field. Vassar went through 13 phases, with a particularly telling line break from Erik Quinson, and Graham found Simon with a pass for an excellent team try. This fourth try made it 26-0 but more importantly, it had covered about 100 yards and it deflated the Molloy players who moments earlier had expected to score and get a foothold in the game.
 
The second half started with Vassar getting turned over multiple times. Players placed the ball in an exposed position and the Molloy defenders quickly snapped it up eager to get back into the game. Molloy scored after 2 successive turnovers and when the ball was move to their backs a missed tackle allowed them a line break and their number 13 finished well.
 
The Vassar forwards had the next big say in this contest. They had consistently driven Molloy back in the set piece and Erik Quinson had ruled the lineouts, a fact that would have made his great grandfather proud – he being a former French international player! But it was Louis Khourey who scored to finish off some good picking and driving to make it 31-7 and then fellow lock Matt Brown went over at a lineout and the game was out of sight for Molloy at 36-7.
 
Nich Graham went over after the pack had scrummaged well and it was 41-7 before Molloy got a consolation score.
 
Next weekend Vassar face Sacred Heart University in a conference semifinal game. The team needs a good week of practices as they need to sort out better lines of running and get some contact work in for what looks like a very tough game ahead.
 
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: 7-1
Next week: Tri-State Conference semifinal on Sunday November 2^nd, 2014 versus Sacred Heart University Men, kick-off 1:00 p.m. at Vassar College Farm.

Vassar College Men "B" 15 v 33 Molloy College Men "B"
Tries: Jack Fischer (1), Dale Lord (1), & Nick Crooks (1).
 
The Vassar men jumped out to a 10-7 lead with Jack Fischer running in for the first try impressively from 50 yards out. His try was followed by a first try for freshman Dale Lord as he powered over having picked the ball. In between Molloy had sliced through the middle of the Vassar defense to score under the posts.
 
The Vassar forwards did an admirable job at the scrum and in the rucks but the backs were found somewhat wanting in defense. Too often Fischer was slow to come up and it left a huge dog-leg gap to be exploited. Molloy led at the half 21-10 and added a try to make it 28-10 before Vassar lock Nick Crooks scooted over but it was too little too late as the visitors ran out 33-15 victors.
 
Team: 15 Emmanuel Ntow 14 Nick Olkovsky  13 Sam Lehn 12 Caleb Zachary 11 Russel Spiro 10 Jack Fischer 9 Wade Crouch 1 Dale Lord 2 Eric Santacruz 3 Solomon Ajasin 4 Nick Crooks 5 Alejandro Andrade Garcia 6 Phoenix Morrison

-Head Coach Tony Brown