POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 1, 2014) - The good news is that the Vassar Women advance to the Regional Playoffs as the Conference Runner-up. The bad news is that they did not defeat Rutgers University in the Conference Championship game this chilly and grey afternoon. Friends and family braved the cold and damp conditions but Vassar players missed too many tackles, did not deal well with the kicking game, and gave up too many turnovers with Rutgers capitalizing.
 
Vassar College Women 15 v 38 Rutgers University Women
Tries: Taylor Nunley (1) & Darienne Jones (2).
 
Vassar kicked off this Conference Championship game and 60 seconds later Rutgers had scored under the posts and led 7-0. There had been three rucks and two kicks, the latter kick sailed deep into space and bounced right into the arms of their speedy right wing. It was the worst possible start for the Brewers.
 
The next 15 minutes of the game saw Vassar tighten their belt and they made good yards and stayed in the Rutgers half. The forwards ran with authority and the Rutgers defense was pushed back. But the New Jersey school stiffened when Vassar threatened in the 22 and a penalty for holding on allowed them to clear their line.
 
In fact, this was to be something of a feature as Vassar would move up field and finally turn the ball over by virtue of a penalty, the ball being ripped away, or a dropped a pass. Rutgers would clear the danger using the strong foot of their flyhalf. Rutgers went further ahead when they did a simple switch move and the inside center ran past the Vassar flanker and then had 3 other Vassar players miss tackles! Vassar flanker Nathalie Freeman finally brought her down close to the line but a quick ruck saw the ball moved through 2 pairs of hands and it was 12-0. It has to be said that Vassar should have done a lot better in defending these first two scores but they were well taken by Rutgers.
 
Vassar's response was exemplary. The forwards marched straight back to the Rutgers goal line and then after a penalty had allowed Rutgers to clear their line the Brewers went straight back and went over to make it 12-5. Rutgers was down to 14 players after persistently coming in to the tackle and rucks from the side and Vassar managed to close the gap to 2 points when Darienne Jones went over. The forwards had done a good job getting their picking game in gear and now, at 12-10, it was game on as the first half came to a close.
 
Rutgers began to compete at the rucks and was able to win a couple of possessions by counter-rucking well. That and some sloppy tackling led to field position and they worked the ball the full width of the field and scored in the right corner. It was an important score as it took the wind out of the Vassar sails and created a 9-point lead with a good conversion from out wide.
 
A booming 50-yard clearance kick from inside the Rutgers 22 was not caught and once again the Vassar players having been held just short of the goal line found themselves having to run back and start over.
 
Rutgers scored next when they counter-rucked and then ran hard through three would-be tacklers. The left wing did well to cut inside and it was 26-10. Rutgers kept up the pressure kicking deep and then when Vassar was turned over in their own half they had possession and field position.  Vassar battled and tried to breech the Rutgers defense but again it was a counter-ruck opportunity that tipped the scale. Rutgers swung the ball to the right and put a hill in front of the Brewers at 33-10. Moments later after conceding a penalty the Rutgers number 9 tapped and went. She was fortunate to not be called back as she took the penalty at the wrong mark but one missed tackle and now it was 38-10.
 
Vassar did score next and it was Darienne Jones who went over making it 33-15 with about 10 minutes or so left. Jones had worked hard throughout, as had all the forwards.
 
So Rutgers deservedly won the game and with it the Tri-State Conference Championship. Vassar needs to address some key areas and be ready to play next weekend. Their opponent is Buffalo State University who will travel to the Farm.
 
Team: 15 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 14 Tamasha Persaud 13 Anne Fritzson 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Molly Osborn 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Yael Schwartz 1 Darienne Jones 2 Kathleen Gould 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Sophia Rutkin 5 Leigh Yakubowski 6 Taylor Nunley 7 Nathalie Freeman 8 Meg Slattery.
 
Record: 7-2
 
Next week: Saturday November 8^th, 2014
USA Rugby & American Collegiate Rugby Association Fall Championship
Round of 32
At Vassar College Farm
Vassar College Women versus Buffalo State University kick-off 1:00 p.m.

- Head Coach Tony Brown