POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 24, 2015) – The visiting Molloy College women had won last weekend in a wildcard playoff game to advance to the conference quarterfinal stage. But they faced a very determined and resolute Vassar team that was keen to make amends for a loss last week and which is building toward the conference championship showdown for a place in the National Fall Championship. It was also team captain Cierra Thomas' birthday and the squad celebrated in style.
Vassar College Women 88 v 0 Molloy College Women
Tries: Nathalie Freeman (3), Darienne Jones (3), Mariah Ghant (1), Rachel Elson (2), Cierra Thomas (2), Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild (1), Taylor Nunley (1), Mary Margaret McElduff (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (9).
Fourteen tries were run in as Molloy was put to the sword this past Saturday. It was good to see the team deliberately putting into practice what they have been doing to improve. The forwards were uncompromising and the backs looked much more clinical with good lines of running and few turnovers.
Molloy tackled throughout and their fullback in particular was prominent but that is probably not a good sign for it would indicate that the first line of defense was being unlocked.
Mariah Ghant ran well and scored a good try. Darienne Jones collected a hat-trick as did flanker Nathalie Freeman. As ever Cierra Thomas sliced though openings and she scored a brace.
Highlights included the big hit Darienne Jones put in halfway though the first period of play; the ball placement by then fullback Makena Emery followed by the textbook clearout by Anne Fritzson and the pick-up by Rachel Jones; and the twisting, turning, all elbows and knees running of Lauren Workman.
Next up for Vassar is a semifinal against Marist College Women. Marist have a habit of improving as the season goes deeper and deeper and complacency is a dangerous state of mind. The team must get better at game management and work on defensive alignment if they are to truly challenge for a national playoff slot.
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Anne Fritzson 13 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Abigail Alexander 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jyen Wong 1 Darienne Jones 2 Kristina Catomeris 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Lauren Workman 5 Amanda Saich 6 Sarah Mawhinney 7 Nathalie Freeman 8 Taylor Nunley. Subs: Rachel Jones for Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild, Claire Fondrie-Teitler for Lauren Workman, Miranda Scarlata for Amanda Saich, Jennie To for Nathalie Freeman, Makena Emery for Rachel Elson.
Overall record: 6-1-0
Next week: Sunday November 1st, 2015 Tri-State Conference Semifinal at Vassar KO 1:00 pm versus Marist College Women.
Sunday October 25th, 2015
Vassar College Women 42 v 5 SUNY-New Paltz Women
Tries: Alicia Menard-Livingston (1), Kayla Lightner (4), Rachel Elson (1), Oshana Reich (1), & Andrea Ramsay (1).
Cons: Rachel Elson (1).
The Vassar Women "B" side took the field on Sunday and immediately established good shape to outmaneuver the SUNY-New Paltz team. It was wonderful to watch the players who just weeks ago picked up a rugby ball for the first time make rugby specific decisions and execute skills that are necessary for good team play. The upperclassmen in the team led by example and the visiting New Paltz players must have wondered how they will challenge Vassar in the years to come!
Min Chen impressed when carrying the ball and bravely dived to secure possession. Eliana Peterkin had a couple of big tackles and Andrea Ramsay was a constant threat beating defenders and just generally being a nuisance.
In total 8 tries were scored and it was a breakout day for Vassar's Kayla Lightner. The sophomore bagged four of those tries as she skipped through the defense and found the whitewash.
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Alicia Menard-Livingston 13 Allegra von Hirschberg 12 Kayla Lightner 11 Andrea Ramsay 10 Makena Emery 9 Jennie To 1 Elaina Peterkin 2 Katie Sworden 3 Min Chen 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Oshana Reich 6 Marron McConnell 7 Megan de Koning 8 Claire Fondrie-Teitler. Subs: Catrin Tellez for Miranda Scarlate, Nathalie Freeman for Jennie To, Abby Alexander for Rachel Elson, Elena Smithies for Claire Fondrie-Teitler, Rachel Elson for Makena Emery.
--VASSAR--
