POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 16, 2014) - The Vassar Women had battled bravely for 79 minutes. They had scored 4 tries, shown some good shape, put their bodies on the line, and led 20-17 with only minutes left. But a series of penalties at the ruck that were quickly taken by Kutztown saw the visitors score with the last play of the game. Final 22-20 and Kutztown had won. It was gut wrenching and a complete silence enveloped the Vassar touchline.
 
Vassar College Women 20 v 22 Kutztown University Women
Tries: Margaret Slattery (2), Nathalie Freeman (1), & Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild (1).
 
This was a cruel ending to the season for the Brewers and there weren't any dry eyes when the final whistle was blown. The Vassar Brewers had given their all against a physically strong and determined Kutztown University Women's team.
 
Meg Slattery had not put a foot wrong all game and it she who scored Vassar's first try to earn the 5-0 lead. Later in the half, Vassar lost co-captain and scrumhalf Yael Schwartz to what looked a serious knee injury and it was Slattery who moved from Number 8 to scrumhalf. She did very well and Taylor Nunley went to Number 8 with Lauren Workman coming on to the field.
 
Before the injury, Kutztown had scored a simple try when they drove in a lineout to make it 5-5. But Vassar enjoyed a good spell after that try and the forwards began to dominate their strong and larger opponents. Darienne Jones made good yards and the picking game was good. It allowed Nathalie Freeman to score and Vassar was deservedly up 10-5.
 
Although Vassar looked fairly competent with the ball when Kutztown had possession they ran hard and the Vassar tackling looked suspect. A team always knows they are in with a good chance of winning a game if the defenders are slipping off tackles. Unfortunately, Vassar was doing just that from time to time. But when Meg Slattery got a second try from a scrum at close range and it was 15-5 it seemed that Vassar might pull away.
 
Credit Kutztown for standing tall and staying in the contest. Their forwards kept picking and although their backs had some poor passing movements with dropped passes Vassar did not capitalize. In fact it was Kutztown who scored next and it was game on at 15-10.
 
Vassar set about winning the second 40 minutes and fullback Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild gathered a poor clearance kick and outflanked the Kutztown defense to score in the corner. Vassar led 20-10 but they seemed to let up a tad and there was still a good 20 plus minutes to be played.
 
Kutztown broke through some sloppy tackling and scored under the posts. They now had the momentum and it was a 3-point game at 20-17. Vassar needed to defend the fringes and not commit to the rucks until they had a good opportunity to win the ball.  Kutztown was running out of time and when a Vassar player was penalized at a ruck the Pennsylvania school quick tapped and burst up field. Vassar's full back Blumenthal-Rothchild made yet another fine tackle but at the ensuing ruck Vassar was penalized again. The defending Vassar players were attracted to the ball in the ruck much like bees to pollen and more penalties were committed. It allowed Kutztown to keep the ball and make yards.  With time expired and the next stoppage being the end of the game Vassar needed to either hold up a maul or cause a knock-on. But alas it was not the case and a Kutztown forward scored to make the final 22-20.
 
In the immediate aftermath emotions were, and no doubt still are, raw. There are lessons to be taken from this game, as there are with all others, and in time that discussion will take place. But for now the team should be proud of the effort they put in as there was a plethora of tackling and bags of commitment, not to mention some good rugby played.
 
A 9-3 season has just come to an end and there was much of which to be proud. It's time to rest, heal, and then get in the gym to improve strength. A special thank you to the entire squad for all their efforts on the field and at practices. Spring season cannot come soon enough.
 
Team: 15 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 14 Anne Fritzson 13 Tamasha Persaud 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Priscilla Yevoo 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.  Sub: Lauren Workman for Yael Schwartz.
 
Record: 9-3

- Head Coach Tony Brown