- Head Coach Tony Brown 

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (April 4, 2015) – Perhaps it was the fact that spring had arrived but it was cold enough for snow or maybe the changes in the starting line-up took time to settle in, but the net result was a game where Vassar dominated possession and territory but struggled, in the first half particularly, to get over the whitewash. Credit is due to the Brewers for maintaining their shape and finishing winners. One might have been forgiven for thinking that they had 30 points in the first 40 minutes except when one looked at the scoreboard!

Vassar College Men 29 v 5 SUNY-New Paltz Men

Tries: Erik Quinson (1), Jesse Myhill (1), George Sheppard (2), & Alex Voynow (1).

Cons: Nich Graham (2) 

SUNY-New Paltz against Vassar is a local derby game and with the schools in close proximity it is always a battle royal. The cold, cold weather and blustery wind made passing and catching difficult but the forwards were kept busy with a number of scrums. The Vassar front 5 had no difficulty with the New Paltz forwards in the set piece. The front row of Matt Brown, Alex Voynow, and Geoff Matthes took a couple of strikes against the head and always got the upperhand in the physical battle. It was to prove a decisive component of the game as Vassar needed to keep New Paltz on the back foot.

An early try from Erik Quinson, playing at Number 8, was a fair return for the early monopoly of ball and territory. It looked like Vassar might run up a big score as Kenta Hasui made a couple of good line breaks, Voynow went slicing through with a signature run and Vassar was winning the collisions. But some poor handling was to prove a real road block as Joe Simon, Nick Olkovsky, and Nich Graham spilled the ball. In fact it was a tough day for the Vassar 10 as the service from Jake Sheehy was a little shaky at times. Usually these two are rock solid but Sheehy's passes were too often poor and it stalled the attack.

New Paltz leveled the match at 5-5 and it was a wake-up call for the Vassar team. Then Zach Rippe had to leave with a hamstring injury which didn't help continuity.

A second half brought a change in tactic as Vassar had a howling wind at their backs. Nick Graham put in some long raking kicks behind the New Paltz defense  and pinned the visitors in their own 22. It was almost impossible for them to get out of their own half. Quinson stole a lineout and Vassar was able to get into their pattern which produced the go ahead try from Jesse Myhill. He really is a handful out on the left wing and deserved the try. So 10-5 became 17-5 when super sub George Sheppard slipped through the defense to score a good try and Vassar now looked to be getting into stride.

The forwards had kept up their strong first half performance and the Vassar backs had tidied up their mistakes somewhat so the scoring chances were now being taken. Justin Nam and Matt Brown had good turnovers and Geoff Matthes ran over a number of defenders to keep the defense honest.

All in all the team buckled down in the second half and took their chances thus earning the win. Next weekend it's 7s rather than 15s but Vassar will be hoping that they can start like they finished against New Paltz.

Squad: 15 Joe Simon 14 Steven Juca 13 Nick Olkovsky 12 Kenta Hasui 11 Jesse Myhill 10 Nich Graham 9 Jake Sheehy 1 Geoff Matthes 2 Alex Voynow 3 Matt Brown 4 Zach Rippe 5 John Loree 6 Justin Nam 7 Wade Crouch 8 Erik Quinson. Subs: George Sheppard for Zach Rippe, Josh Espada for Wade Crouch, Dale Lord for John Loree.

Next: Sunday April 12, 2015 - The Tri-State Conference 7s Championship at Vassar College kick-off 11:00 am

--VASSAR--