On Saturday the sun was shining and it was a glorious day as the Vassar Women defeated the University of Vermont scoring multiple tries. Today, the Brewers had the opportunity to earn a semifinal spot in the USA Rugby National Fall Championship if they could get past conference rivals the University at Albany. But the temperature had dropped over 30 degrees and snow fallen overnight! Employing snow shovels and a leaf blower, not to mention quite a bit of elbow grease, the lines on the field were cleared. Although it was not as bad as "Angus" that is hitting the U.K. right now, it was bitterly cold with blustery winds.

Vassar College Women 34 v 5 University at Albany Women
Tries: Mariah Ghant (1), Kate Sworden (1), Rachel Elson (1), Nathalie Freeman (1) & Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild (2). 
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (2).
 
Vassar's Rachel Elson caught the kick-off inside her own 22 and the Brewers proceeded to march down the field and within a minute Mary Margaret McElduff had kicked them up inside the opposition 22. The lineout was halted when Vassar did not use the ball early enough for the referee's liking so Albany was awarded a scrum. Albany failed to clear their line and after a few phases co-captain Mariah Ghant plunged over for a try. It was just reward for a good opening stanza.
 
The cold wind was always going to make handling difficult for both teams and after a handling error and a couple of penalties Vassar was back defending just 5 yards from their own goal line. Albany battered away but some good tackles and then a crucial turnover allowed Vassar to escape the immediate riposte. 

Leading 7-0 and having defended strongly near their line Vassar felt in control and when Albany tried to move the ball wide some poor passing was pounced upon by the Vassar centers and possession gained. It was VC's Kate Sworden who alertly picked and slithered through a gap in the fringe defense and Vassar led 12-0.
 
The score stood at 12-0 for a solid 20 minutes as the game was played for the most part in the Albany half and try as they might the Great Danes just could not get any really significant territory. Vassar too was held at bay but looked the more dangerous with a good degree of continuity. Eventually, the Brewers moved the ball wide to fullback Rachel Elson who split the defense and put Vassar up 17-0.
 
Vassar flanker Nathalie Freeman scored a good try just before the end of the half that made it 22-0 after McElduff's conversion hit the post. The Vassar scrum had stolen a couple of Albany put-ins, the lineout was functioning well enough so there were no concerns about set piece. Meanwhile the penalty count was mounting against Albany as they struggled to get back onside consistently.
 
At the half all the talk was about how Albany are a good second half team no matter what the score. Vassar needed to continue to boss the set piece and keep mistakes to a minimum. In the second forty minutes Vassar went further ahead as two tries from center Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild sealed the victory. Both tries saw the center run strongly and at 34-0 after 65 minutes of play Albany showed some real character and not only earned territory but also scored a try. The final score of 34-5 perhaps doesn't convey the physical intensity of this playoff game but it was a fight for every yard, foot and inch.
 
For the third time in 4 years the Vassar Women are headed to the Final 4 Championship this Fall. Having graduated some key players last year this squad has worked hard to fill the void. Of 38 Vassar Women players on the roster 31 have scored points this fall. It is a squad that produces a team that can sustain success.
 
There are just 14 days left in the Fall Season and two games to play. The squad must be sure to not let the Thanksgiving Break interrupt their fitness levels and they need to maintain their focus on the next game. This means they must get their academic work done in a timely manner, workout and rest. There will be no time for socializing for the next 2 weeks save for Turkey Day itself.
 
A huge, huge debt of gratitude is owed to the many volunteers this weekend that helped Vassar host 8 women's rugby teams over two days for a total of 8 games. The referees from all over the USA; the assistant referees from RRSNY and NYRRS, Mike Callahan, Blayne Fluke and Shawn Turner of Vassar Athletics; the Athletic Trainers Josh Chason and Tory Franco; the members of the Vassar Men's Rugby Team who did a host of jobs at the two fields and in particular Trevor Kennish and Nate Cuson; Claire Fondrie-Teitler, Andrea Ramsay, Michelle Urrutia and Abby Alexander of the women's rugby team; Sean McElduff and Lee Fleischer; and of course thanks to Mark Griffiths who despite opting to use the leaf blower this morning has worked and will continue to work his socks off to get this team ready to play each weekend. Also special mention for the Buildings and Grounds, Anne Beckingham and the crew at Prentiss who prepared the fields and received rave reviews from all the visiting teams.

A final word of thanks to all the parents, family, faculty, administrators, friends and our V.C. Rugby Alumni who cheered from start to finish.
 
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Abigail Alexander 13 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 12 Alicia Menard-Livingston 11Andrea Ramsay 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jennie To 1 Kaitlin Prado 2 Kate Sworden 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Oshana Reich 5 Lauren Workman 6 ?Nathalie Freeman 7 Sarah Mawhinney 8 Amanda Saich. 
Subs: Claire Fondrie-Teitler for Kaitlin Prado.
 
Overall record: 11-1-0

Next: Saturday & Sunday December 3^rd & 4^th, 2016 at The USA Rugby National Fall Championship Final 4 hosted at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina.

Final 4 participants: Vassar College, Davenport University, U.S. Coast Guard Academy & Winona State University. Details to follow next week.

?Results of the games hosted at Vassar College 

Saturday & Sunday November 19 & 20, 2016

Women's Division I
Saturday
University of Connecticut 25 v 19 University of Notre Dame?
Boston College 79 v 26 University of Northern IowaSunday

University of Notre Dame 29 v 22 University of Northern Iowa
UCONN advanced to Final 12/4, 2016

Women's Division II

Saturday
Vassar College 69 v 0 University of Vermont

U. at Albany 56 v 7 Buffalo State University?

Vassar College 34 v 5 University at Albany

Buffalo State University 39 v 12 University of Vermont