Collegiate Rugby
Vassar College Women

West Point, NY
Saturday, October 27, 2018
 
This Conference semifinal game pitted the Vassar College Women against Mid-Hudson Valley rivals SUNY-New Paltz. In the opening game of the year Vassar dispatched New Paltz quite handily, 117-0, but that was back in early September. Early turnovers cost the home team and after about 20 minutes it looked like this turnover ball, which has plagued this team in the past 2 games, might prove their Achilles Heel.

Vassar College Women 79 v 22 SUNY-New Paltz Women
Tries: Marron McConnell (1), Jennie To (1), Danielle Kaminski (1), Kate Sworden (1), Oshana Reich (3) Kira Nolan (2), Maddie Crump (1), Emma Manzella (1), Molly Lynch (1), Julia Busby (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vences-Dimas (7).
 
The conditions for the players were poor as it was cold, windy and wet with a steady rain falling but the flood predictions never materialized. It is important for Vassar to be able to play their patterns in this kind of weather and to be fair by the close of play they had done so at times.
 
After Vassar opened the scoring through Marron McConnell and led 5-0 it was New Paltz that deservedly tied matters up and then took the lead. Vassar fell behind 10-5 and it certainly focused the team on the task ahead. The two tries were a combination of poor tackling and turnovers. Both are very fixable and at this point in the season there is no time for these miscues.
 
McConnell came close to scoring a second try but would have to leave the field later having taken a knock to the head. Vassar tied the game at 10-10 when scrumhalf Jennie To scored but she too had to be replaced after she rolled her ankle.
 
The Vassar forwards started to assert their dominance and although there were some rucks where they were too passive they provided a solid platform allowing a further 4 tries in the first half. From one of those poor rucks New Paltz stole the ball and scooted in for a try.
 
Vassar's Kira Nolan took the helm with Jennie To off the field and she did a good job of organizing the attack. In addition she scored 2 tries before the first half ended which buoyed her confidence no end. Danielle Kaminski gave Vassar a 15-10 lead and had a good game overall.
 
It did not seem as if the Vassar team led 41-15 for New Paltz had battled hard. They put players into the rucks to contest possession and kept rebuilding their defensive line. Vassar was probably guilty of not recognizing some golden opportunities since quite often that defensive line was short on numbers.
 
The challenge for Vassar in the second 40 minutes was to minimize errors and implement their attack patterns. There was a good measure of success in both areas. A further 6 tries were scored and one conceded.
 
Center Molly Lynch ran well collecting 2 tries, Oshana Reich had a hattrick and Emma Manzella slithered over to score as well. Vassar rookie Julia Busby gave a good account of herself even getting over the whitewash.
 
The Vassar Women now advance to the Conference Championship game next weekend that will be played at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Saturday November 3rd, 2018, kick-off 1:00 p.m. The opponent will be either Fairfield University Women or Stony Brook University Women.
 
Team: 15 Caroline James 14 Sophia Blush 13 Emma Manzella 12 Molly Lynch 11 Julia Busby 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Jennie To 1 Meg Martin 2 Marron McConnell 3 Kate Sworden 4 Maddie Crumo 5 Miranda Scarlata 6 Halle Hutchinson 7 Danielle Kaminski 8 Oshana Reich.
Subs: Kira Nolan for Jennie To, Catherine Gladstone for Marron McConnell.
 
Overall record: 9-0-0
Conference record: 4-0-0
 
Next: Saturday November 3, 2018 Tri-State Conference Championship at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Kick-off 1:00 p.m.
 
Vassar College Women B 29 v 21 Marist College Women B
Tries: Emily Howell (1), Kira Nolan (1) Meredith Leder (1), Yume Murphy (1), Maddie Crump (1).
Cons: Caroline James (2).
 
The Vassar B-side XV took a while to get fully into this contest and Marist moved the ball well to take a 14-5 lead. Vassar's try in that opening stanza was scored by Emily Howell who had a good day at the office carrying the ball. The freshman managed to break tackles and get in behind the Marist defense. 
 
The Marist tries came after some missed tackles and in the second half Vassar monopolized possession and played with a directness and speed of ball that would have troubled any defense. Captain Meredith Leder, prop Yume Murohy and lock Maddie Crump scored and it proved enough to win the day.
 
Team: 15 Rebekah Graham 14 Julia Busby 13 Caroline James 12 Meredith Leder 11 Jamelia Watson 10 Charlotte Benoit 9 Kira Nolan 1 Morgan Hayman 2 Kaira Smith 3 Yume Murphy 4 Emily Howell 5 Catherine Gladstone 6 Miranda Scarlata 7 Kayla Vasquez 8 Aisha Malik.
Subs: Maddie Crump for Miranda Scarlata, Victoria Wilk for Julia Busby.