After some jitters at the start of this match the Vassar Women settled down and put together a comprehensive 30 minutes during which they scored 5 tries and held the United States Coast Guard Academy scoreless. It was just as well for the second half was won handily by the New London school.

Four mistakes in the opening seven minutes did not bode well for the Vassar team as they faced the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in the semifinal of the USA Rugby National Fall Championship. In addition, the team looked sluggish and slow to react when penalties were awarded so it was very satisfying when Jennie To went over to score Vassar's first try. To had a solid game distributing well to the backs and working with her forwards. She collected a second try, Vassar's third, after right wing Abby Alexander had collected one for herself and it left Vassar well in control at 17-0.

The Vassar forwards were winning the loose exchanges up front and it produced a steady supply of ball.

The U.S. Coast Guard team did deliver some resounding tackles and one had memories of this time last year when Vassar squeaked out a 15-10 win. But generally the ball was placed and won by the supporting Vassar forwards although there were quite a few steals by the Bears.

Flanker Oshana Reich scored a try to put Vassar up 22-0 and then with less than a minute on the clock until the expiration of the first 40 minutes it was flyhalf Makena Emery who darted through to score under the posts. So a 29-0 lead seemed to suggest that the game was done and dusted. Wow betide any player that is fooled by a scoreline with another 40 minutes still to play!

Vassar had taken some hefty knocks and the team was probably guilty of taking their collective foot off the pedal. Coast Guard came out with tempo and attitude determined to make a game of it and that they did.

In fact the Academy scored 4 tries in the second half and converted one. They won the second 40 minutes 22-7 so it finished 36-22.

The Brewers defensive effort in the second half was quite simply horrible! Missed tackle after missed tackle coupled with a few turnovers allowed for Coast Guard to battle back. Kudos to the Academy players for they never stopped attacking with the ball in hand.

Oshana Reich, Kayla Lightner and Jennie To topped the tackle count for the Brewers and if each player could emulate their attitude and commitment in defense then Vassar would be formidable indeed.

Vassar did score 6 tries in total and will now play Winona State in the Championship game on Sunday at 1:00 pm in Stone Stadium on the Furman University campus. The defensive alignment, attitude and tackling will have to be vastly improved if the team is to earn a National title.