It was the last game of the day at the rugby field of host Siena College. The Vassar Women wanted to win the Conference title and reach the USA Rugby National Fall Championship Round of 32. But in their path was division rival the University at Albany. Earlier this fall the Brewers had won a tough contest 31-12, which for the first hour of play had been closely contested. Over the ensuing weeks both teams had earned a number of wins propelling each to this final. Albany threw the kitchen sink into the opening 20 minutes and it was game on!

Vassar College Women 46 v 10 University at Albany Women
Tries: Rachel Elson (2), Kate Sworden (1), Lauren Workman (1), Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild (2), Amanda Saich (1), Mary Margaret McElduff (1), & Mariah Ghant (1). 
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (3).
 
The Vassar College Women hit the ground running for this Conference final. It was imperative that they get off to a good start and the close support of the forwards at the breakdown was excellent. There was a real sense of purpose and determination and it was certainly needed. The University at Albany has some strong forwards and dangerous backs. They had done their homework and hit rucks trying to deny Vassar possession. In addition, they looked to use the ball hitting up off the fringes before putting it wide. But such was the speed of the Vassar attack and the unselfish play of the Vassar forwards that Albany players were caught offside or knocked over. 
 
Three tries, one from Rachel Elson when she was put away on the right and did a few spins, a second from Lauren Workman and a third from Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild had the Albany area school looking at 19-0 before the game was 20 minutes old.
 
Vassar kept up the pressure and at the forefront was scrumhalf Jennie To who ran the show behind the forwards. The fourth Vassar try was an old fashioned push-over try from 5-meters out. Albany must be shaking their heads at conceding that one! And when Mary Margaret McElduff went over to make it 29-0 it was clear that Vassar was taking no prisoners.
 
But Albany are a proud team and they came back strongly mid-way through the second half and scored 2 tries against a Vassar defense that was less than impressive. The Brewers must continue to work on their defensive organization and make a habit of not letting teams score.
 
However, it must be hats off to the Vassar Women for winning their second consecutive Conference Championship and the third in 4 years.
 
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Abigail Alexander 13 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 12 Alicia Menard-Livingston 11 Andrea Ramsay 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jennie To 1 Kate Sworden 2 Marron McConnell 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Lauren Workman 5 Oshana Reich 6 ?Nathalie Freeman 7 Sarah Mawhinney 8 Amanda Saich. 
Subs: Miranda Scarlata for Oshana Reich, Michelle Urrutia for Alicia Menard-Livingston, Claire Fondrie-Teitler for Sarah Mawhinney, Ellen Quist for Marron McConnell, & Makena Emery for Mary Margaret McElduff.
 
Overall record: 8-1-0

Next week: Saturday November 12^th, 2016 USA Rugby National Fall Championship Round of 32 versus SUNY-Geneseo Women (to be confirmed) at Vassar College Farm, kick-off 1:00 pm.