Vassar College Women 32 v 43 Bloomsburg University Women
Tries: Cierra Thomas (3), Mariah Ghant (1), Rachel Elson (1), Nathalie Freeman (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (1).
 
This was always going to be a tough game. First, both teams had had their hopes of a championship dashed the day before, and second, playing on consecutive days is hard on the body. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, the kick-off was 9:00 am courtesy of USA Rugby planning putting 3 finals at the same venue with one field. Interestingly, the men played the later games on both days. But the solution is to have each be a stand-alone event.
 
Vassar scored first after a good passage of play took them down the left wing. Cierra Thomas started the scoring and she would have a wonderful game and finish with the last try as well. No-one knew at this point what a shoot-out this game would be and all the players deserve praise for their commitment and effort. The spectators were treated to 13 tries with Vassar collecting 6 and Bloomsburg 7. It was a hard fought game for the full 80 minutes and had Vassar managed to corral Bloomsburg's Nicole Snyder at inside center the day may have gone very differently. As it was Snyder scored 6 of the Bloomsburg tries and was undoubtedly the player of the tournament. A number of years ago Emilie Bydwell of Brown University Women burst on to the college scene and quickly progressed to the National side. If Snyder does not do the same, then more fool the USA team management.
 
Bloomsburg scored twice to go up 14-5 but Vassar struck back when Mariah Ghant drove over to make it 14-10. Snyder got her third try despite a very good defensive shift put in by the Vassar team and when the Brewers got the ball they quickly moved down the field and scored when Rachel Elson was put away. After 40 minutes both teams had scored 3 tries and Bloomsburg led 19-17.
 
Vassar's start to the second half could not have been worse. They kicked off and Bloomsburg moved the ball to Snyder who burst up the field and scored. The halftime talk had been about stopping her but after just 60 seconds of the second half the threat was emphatically re-confirmed!
 
Bloomsburg had suffered a bad reversal the day before in the second half against Davenport so this start was just what the doctor had ordered. They added another try on the back of a badly sliced kick and it looked like Vassar couldn't buy a break. The Brewers also struggled with the referee's interpretation at the breakdown which did not help their cause. Another try this time from a Bloomsburg forward left them a mountain to climb at 36-17 but as was the case the day before they mounted a comeback. Flanker Nathalie Freeman contorted herself athletically to get over the line and Thomas sliced through again for her second try. But there was more to come as Snyder added her last try and then Thomas responded. So the final score stood at 43-32.
 
Vassar earned a host of admirers this weekend, as it was quite clear they did not have the size of athlete of the other programs, yet they battled bravely and with good shape to their game. The 4 schools competing this weekend emerged from a pool of 120 and all deserve huge credit for the standard of rugby on display. Bloomsburg finished third and in the final Davenport prevailed over Winona 27-22 so while the Brewers finished 4^th they can take some solace in that these teams are heavy hitters and over the course of the two games Vassar scored 10 tries and was a worthy competitor.
 
The support for the Brewers was magnificent and ranged from texts and e-mails sent by alumni, professors, family, and friends to the entourage that journeyed south. Thank you one and all for the commitment you made to support the squad. And it has been a squad effort this fall for in addition to the 15 that played there are the future starters who traveled as well. They gave of their time and worked hard as well preparing the team.


A final thank you to the players themselves who proudly represented the college over two days. It was a massively demanding physical weekend that included a 28-hour round-trip bus ride and getting their academic assignments done. 
 
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Anne Fritzson 13 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Abby Alexander 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jyen Wong 1 Darienne Jones 2 Kristina Catomeris 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Amanda Saich 5 Lauren Workman 6 Sarah Mawhinney 7 Nathalie Freeman 8 Taylor Nunley.
 
Subs: Oshana Reich, Miranda Scarlata, Molly Osborn, Jennie To, Claire Fondrie-Teitler, Elaina Peterkin, Kayla Lightner, Rachel Jones, Andrea Ramsay, Michelle Urrutia, Min Chen, Alicia Menard-Livingston, Allegra von Hirschberg, Makena Emery, Katie Sworden, Marron McConnell, Megan de Koning.


Read USA Rugby's Report of the Vassar games at http://www.USARugby.org (on the Home page with photographs)
 
Overall record: 11-3-0.
Next: Spring Season 2016.