- Head Coach Tony Brown
 
POUGHKEESPIE, NY (November 22, 2015) – A somewhat frantic start from both teams was probably due to nerves as there was plenty riding on the result of this game. The winner would advance to the Fall Final 4 in 2 weeks with a shot at the title. Nine of this Vassar team had played 2 years ago at the Final 4. But that same 9 had missed out at this quarterfinal stage last year in cruel fashion as Kutztown scored to win with the last play of the game. There had been some real soul searching after that loss and this year the Brewers wanted to exorcise that demon!
 
Vassar College Women 15 v 10 Bowdoin College Women
Tries: Darienne Jones (2), Cierra Thomas (1).
 
But it was the Polar Bears who scored first as they moved the ball wide to their left wing and the fullback rounded both the covering Vassar wing and fullback with real pace. On a few other possessions the Bowdoin 10 had grubber kicked through but Vassar's Rachel Elson was pleased to receive the ball. Bowdoin had made their intent clear and it was a very good try that gave them a 5-0 lead after just 10 minutes.
 
Vassar managed to establish territory and possession with some close driving forward play following getting the ball at the kick-off. Despite some pressure from the Bowdoin pack at the scrum Vassar began to monopolize the ball. Getting over the gain line consistently caused Bowdoin to give away penalties and that led to more territory.
 
Vassar tied the game when Darienne Jones alertly tapped at a free kick and went over but the conversion attempt was unsuccessful. It was an important score for it not only underlined that Vassar was back on level terms but that what they were doing was effective. So each team had set out their stall as to what they wanted to do and the battle was begun.
 
Darienne Jones scored again from short range as Bowdoin gave away a slew of penalties near their line. Vassar was now 10-5 up and the forwards looked to have the Polar Bears measure in loose play. Taylor Nunley at Number 8 dealt with the untidy scrum ball and Cierra Thomas made a couple of telling line breaks to force Vassar up field.
 
It remained 10-5 for the majority of the game and the remainder of the first half was predominantly Vassar having the ball and Bowdoin defending. The Polar Bears did get a good start to the second 40 minutes and they pressured the Vassar defense. They ran down the narrow side, scrummaged well, and looked to be getting back into the match. But Vassar's defense did not break although one early line break brought fullback Elson into the game. She moved forward to tackle but the Bowdoin player kicked the ball ahead and it rolled out.
 
Vassar worked their way into the opposition half and from a lineout on the left the ball was moved to Cierra Thomas who scored  a well worked try and now Vassar led 15-5 with about 15 minutes left.
 
Bowdoin would need 2 scores to at least tie the game up. But now Vassar was playing as if the finish line was within reach. It did not help Bowdoin's cause that they had a player "sinbinned" and as the time slowly expired it was Vassar who looked  in good shape.
 
A gutsy performance and much better defending by Vassar now mean a trip to the Final 4. Congratulations to the entire squad for making it thus far and now we need a big effort on December 5th.
 
Thank you to the many family members, friends, parents, and fellow students for the wonderful support on the touchline.
 
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.
 
Overall record: 11-1-0
 
Next: December 5, 2015 versus Winona State at the USA Rugby National Fall Championship Final 4 in Greenville, SC hosted by Furman University.