WEST POINT N.Y. - It is an iconic institution that is part of American history. The United States Military Academy at West Point sits on the Hudson River surrounded by rolling hills and with its greystone buildings it is both impressive and imposing. The Anderson Rugby Complex on campus is one of the best rugby facilities in the country. The Vassar College Women had a serious challenge facing this varsity program and they did themselves proud.

Vassar College Women 29 v 22 USMA, West Point (Army) Women JV XV
Tries: Kaitlin Prado (1),  Oshana Reich (2) & Jennie To (2).
Cons: Aislinn Vences-Dimas (2). 

It was a chilly fall night game under lights at West Point's Anderson Rugby Complex. The atmosphere was electric and Vassar was looking for big game experience against a strong physical opponent. The Brewers started well and it was soon clear that they would need to keep possession as the Army Women had considerable speed on the outside.

The Vassar pack did look solid in the scrum and Kaitlin Prado had a night to remember. She had been moved to hooker and threw-in well, was a force carrying the ball and she took a couple of tightheads. If that wasn't enough she scored Vassar's first try with a close range effort.

But the Cadets came back into what was to be an absorbing contest over the 80 minutes. Vassar slipped off a tackle and in a flash it was 7-5 to the home team. Despite possession and territory statistics heavily in Vassar's favor the Brewers were down on the scoreboard. They were probably guilty of a couple of missed opportunities before Number 8 Oshana Reich scooted over and made it 10-7.

Army pressed forward and Vassar was guilty of being too passive on the fringes which allowed for forward progress. When the Cadets swung the ball wide to the right wing good tackles were made but an offload put the outside back in space and she sprinted in for a try and an Army lead 12-10. Another Army breakout took them to within 15 yards of the goal line and they increased their lead by 3 points when they connected on a penalty. Army was now up 15-10.

Vassar suffered a blow when lock Nyala Jackson was injured and had to be taken to the ER. She had dislocated her knee but it was quickly reduced and she will see an orthopedic surgeon this week. Senior Kate Sworden came on and a reshuffled Vassar pack continued to be rock solid. Just before halftime Jennie To went over for Vassar and a slender 17-15 lead had been earned.

The second 40 minutes was a game of chess between the teams. Army challenged the Vassar defense attempting to stretch the Brewers with passes to the outside. The Cadets did send some strong runners up the middle to try and create that space but they got little return for their efforts. Vassar was intent on being a tad more direct and met stiff resistance with some solid tackles from the Cadets.

The Vassar set piece was winning the day and lineouts generated good ball while the scrum was dominant. Jennie To scored an important try to create a 9 point margin at 24-15. But Army eventually got the ball to the right wing again and she showed a clean pair of heels to the Vassar defenders and it was game on at 24-22.

It was very much nip and tuck in the last quarter but Vassar had more ball and applied good pressure managing their way down the field. Despite some big Army tackles Vassar held on and in the end it was Oshana Reich who went in for her brace and 29-22 looked like a winning scoreline. One of the keys to Vassar maintaining possession was the close, very close support of the ball carrier.

So with 3 minutes left on the clock  Army would need to score and convert to tie the game. They made a valiant effort but as they got the ball wide to the right wing Number 8 Oshana Reich was having none of it. She put in a tackle that drove the ball carrier almost on to the railway tracks by the Hudson - game over!

Vassar had won and given that the next day there was another game to be played - the quarterfinal of the Tri-State Conference - it was quite an effort mentally and physically.

Team: 15 Rebekah Graham 14 Caroline James 13 Emma Manzella 12 Molly Lynch 11 Claudia Lasch 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Jennie To 1 Meg Martin 2 Kaitlin Prado 3 Catherine Gladstone 4 Nyala Jackson 5 Kayla Vasquez 6 Charlotte Benoit 7 Danielle Kaminski 8 Oshana Reich.
Subs: Kate Sworden for Nyala Jackson & Sophia Blush for Claudia Lasch.

Overall record: 8-0-0
Conference record: 4-0-0