Vassar defeated Springfield College in the quarterfinal round convincingly but it was at a considerable cost. Center and top try scorer this year Cierra Thomas injured her lower leg/ankle breaking the fibula and tearing a ligament. Thomas has had an outstanding year and performed at a high level in every match as well as being a team leader so this was a devastating blow to the team.
 
Vassar College Women 29 v 0 Springfield College Women
Tries: Nathalie Freeman (2), Cierra Thomas (2), Darienne Jones (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (2).
 
This game was scheduled on field 1 and of all the fields at the tournament site this has the steepest slope. Vassar had to play up the slope and into a blustery breeze but Springfield failed to use these advantages. But the main reason was that for the most part Vassar kept them from having the ball. When Springfield did gain possession and kick Vassar's fullback Rachel Elson was only too pleased to get into the action. Elson was guilty of letting the ball bounce on a couple of occasions but once she had possession she was very dangerous eluding defenders and getting Vassar back on the front foot. The Vassar team controlled matters in the first half and went through multiple phases grinding their way up the hill to score three good tries. At 19-0 and with the slope Springfield was looking at Mount Everest.
 
Nathalie Freeman had a wonderful game on the flank and she battled away, in her usual elbows and knees flying in all directions style, scoring two tries. Cierra Thomas scored two before her injury in the second half and was immediately taken to hospital. She will need surgery to repair her fibula and is out for the final 2 weeks of the year.
 
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Anne Fritzson 13 Abigail Alexander 12 Cierra Thomas 11 Alicia Menard-Livingston 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jyen Wong 1 Darienne Jones 2 Kristina Catomeris 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Amanda Saich 5 Oshana Reich 6 Sarah Mawhinney 7 Nathalie Freeman 8 Taylor Nunley. Subs: Lizzie Bennett for Mariah Ghant, Miranda Scarlata for Oshana Reich, Jennie To for Jyen Wong, Andrea Ramsay for Nathalie Freeman, Michelle Urrutia for Cierra Thomas, Makena Emery for Mary Margaret McElduff, Marron McConnell for Sarah Mawhinney.
 
Brewers in semifinal of The Beast
Vassar's opponent in the semifinal of the tournament was Buffalo State and they posed a significant threat with a big pack. But the Brewers have been there and seen that as they regularly meet teams bigger and heavier. But without Cierra Thomas their potent scoring back the team would need to be at their best. Darienne Jones decided to do her best impersonation of Atlas and she essentially picked up the team and carried them on her back to the final.
 
Semifinal Game
Vassar College Women 25 v 0 SUNY-Buffalo Women
Tries: Darienne Jones (4), Rachel Elson (1).
 
This was a team performance to savor, as the Vassar forwards did not take a backward step in the set or loose. The good body positions in the rucks won ball and everyone worked hard to ensure that possession was kept. Buffalo State kept giving away penalties and the ever-alert Darienne Jones needed no further invitation. Her tries were not all from close range as she ran well and not only stepped opponents but also ran over them.
 
Vassar was not only without Thomas in the center but Kayla Lightner had been unavailable for the trip so the center pairing saw Anne Fritzson move into the center and she was joined by Michelle Urrutia. The latter has been very injury prone so has not practiced consistently so there were questions as to how this combination would work. As it turned out things went smoothly with the forwards ensuring good ball. In addition Mary Margaret McElduff had her best game of the weekend thus far as she made good decision and had some impressive runs.
 
At scrumhalf Jennie To had to leave the field when she was suspected of having a concussion. It was a pity for the youngster was playing well and looked very comfortable at the helm.
 
This win was significant, as the 2016 Vassar Women's Rugby Squad had kept alive the streak. Since the year 2000 Vassar has participated in this tournament 10 times and every time has made the final. Prior to this 2016 final Vassar had won 5 titles and been runner-up 4 times. Kudos to the entire 2016 squad of 28 women for their efforts this weekend.
 
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Abigail Alexander 13 Anne Fritzson 12 Michelle Urrutia 11 Alicia Menard-Livingston 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jennie To 1 Darienne Jones 2 Ellen Quist 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Amanda Saich 5 Oshana Reich 6 Sarah Mawhinney 7 Nathalie Freeman 8 Taylor Nunley. Subs: Jyen Wong for Jennie To, Lizzie Bennett for Darienne Jones, Marron McConnell for Sarah Mawhinney, Molly Osborn for Alicia Menard-Livingston, Makena Emery for Mary Margaret McElduff.
 
Beast of the East 2016
Women's Division II Tournament Final
While the Vassar College Women were navigating their path to the championship game Conference rivals the University at Albany had done the same on the other side of the draw. Albany had won their group and then defeated Colby College 29-0 in the quarterfinal and Smith College 26-8 in the semifinal. So the last game of the entire tournament would see Vassar against U. at Albany. Vassar had defeated Albany in the fall 37-12 but the last time they had met at the Beast was 4 years ago and Vassar had lost 22-5. Vassar senior Darienne Jones had played, gotten injured that day, and was keen for redemption - she was on a mission!
 
Vassar College Women 26 v 15 University at Albany Women
Tries: Rachel Elson (1), Taylor Nunley (1), Darienne Jones (1), Nathalie Freeman (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (3).
 
Right from the start Vassar was energized for this final. Although there were plenty of sore bodies on both teams the key was to take on the bigger, heavier Albany forwards and maintain possession. Early snipes around the fringes of the ruck made inroads and Vassar established field position deep in the Albany half. The Albany pack was very competitive at the scrums and quick clean ball was a problem for Vassar but Darienne Jones, Kristina Catomeris, and Mariah Ghant dug in and provided enough of a platform.
 
After about 10 minutes the ball was swung wide for the first time to Rachel Elson and she made a great pick-up when the ball fell short and then scooted over to give Vassar the lead. Mary Margaret McElduff converted from quite wide out on the right and it was 7-0.
 
But from a scrum just inside the Vassar half the Albany flyhalf slipped past McElduff and then beat Elson to score and it was game on at 7-5.
 
Albany upped the ante with some strong forward carries and it was clear that Vassar would have to make sure they brought down the Albany forwards.  Vassar's Mariah Ghant made some impressive tackles to bring down Albany players and the team seemed to become more committed. However, on a couple of occasions Albany went into contact very upright so they were held up and Vassar was able to earn the turnover. Abby Alexander, back on the wing, made one of these "choke" tackles and her teammates were quick to join the maul.
 
With Vassar in possession again they used Number 8 Taylor Nunley to attack the blindside and she consistently made good yards. In fact, she had been a big contributor in all the games she played and after a sustained period of pressure on the Albany line she picked from a scrum and went over.  Again, McElduff slotted the conversion and it was 14-5 as the teams finished the half.
 
The start of the second half bore witness to a wonderful try from Darienne Jones to put Vassar up 19-5. She took a penalty kick and carried the ball to the defense selling a dummy before slicing through a gap, and then she proceeded to stiff-arm first one would-be tackler and then a second before diving over.
 
But Albany would show their character and they immediately struck back with a series of one out passes to forwards on the charge. The Vassar defense was too passive and Albany punched over the gain line scoring on the left and the score stood at 19-10. The game was still in the balance especially considering that Albany also had some very dangerous backs.
 
Albany looked to have knocked on the re-start but play continued an they went through several phases before going into touch. It was time to take the initiative back and the Vassar pack did a wonderful job of winning a ruck after Anne Fritzson got over the gain line. Quick ball was won and Nathalie Freeman picked and went blind where there was an open meadow across which she sprinted going a full 40 yards to score under the posts. 19-10 became 26-10 and there was light at the end of the tunnel for Vassar.
 
Vassar put fresh legs on the field as the subs went in and although Albany did earn another score it was a late consolation try. So the Vassar Women and Darienne Jones had found redemption! This was a hard physically demanding but wonderful weekend for the Brewers.
 
A huge, huge thank you is due to all the family and supporters who traveled to Rhode Island. Also thanks to Julia Chaplin and Lee Fleischer who prepared the team the previous week and helped out over the weekend.
 
Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Abigail Alexander 13 Anne Fritzson 12 Michelle Urrutia 11 Alicia Menard-Livingston 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jyen Wong 1 Darienne Jones 2 Kristina Catomeris 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Oshana Reich 6 Sarah Mawhinney 7 Nathalie Freeman 8 Taylor Nunley. Subs: Cayla Neipris for Michelle Urrutia, Andrea Ramsay for Sarah Mawhinney, Marron McConnell for Nathalie Freeman, Claire Fondrie-Teitler for Miranda Scarlata, Megan deKoning for Oshana Reich, Molly Osborn for Abigail Alexander.
 
Epilogue
Twenty-eight (28) Vassar Women played in the Tournament this weekend with the team winning all 5 of their games, scoring 30 tries, making 10 conversions, for a total of 170 points. They only conceded 4 tries making the point differential +150.  In all, 13 of the 28 women scored points. Top try scorer was Darienne Jones with 9 tries followed by Cierra Thomas with 5. Seven (7) Vassar women scored more than 1 try. Although attention is easily focused on the scorers every one of the 28 was involved in 2 games or more making this a true squad effort.  The squad averaged 30 points per game and conceded only 20 points in 5 games.
 
Overall record 2015-16: 18-4-0
 
Next: Saturday April 23, 2016 Tri-State Conference 7s Championship at Vassar College Farm 9:00 am – 6:00 pm