Collegiate Rugby
Vassar College Women

Bloomsburg, PA
Saturday, October 6, 2018
 
The Vassar College Women were originally scheduled to play at the University of Albany, but that game was cancelled, and so the Brewers were left scrambling for a game this weekend. Fortunately, Bloomsburg University Women had a bye week and, while not all their players were available, they kindly agreed to host Vassar. Probably seven or eight starters were missing for Bloomsburg, but they certainly fronted up and while Vassar was missing just a few individuals—to injury and availability—there was just a bit more firepower in the Brewers squad.

Vassar College Women 48 v 7 Bloomsburg University Women
Tries: Meg Martin (1), Aislinn Vinces-Dimas (1), Kate Sworden (2), Oshana Reich (1), Jennie To (2), Emma Manzella (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vinces-Dimas (4).
 
In the Fall of 2015 the Vassar Women lost to a Bloomsburg team at the USA Rugby National Fall Final 4 Championship in a thriller of a game. Vassar scored six tries and Bloomsburg scored seven, so the question was, would this be a repeat performance? 
 
Bloomsburg traditionally has a strong pack and in that previous encounter they also had a young woman by the name of Nicky Snyder who scored six of the Bloomsburg tries! Vassar did not want to find out if there was another player of that caliber so they planned on keeping possession of the ball! The Brewers did just that and they ran hard off the fringes and managed to launch their own backs. Emma Manzella ran good lines and was definitely aided by the fact that the line speed of Bloomsburg was not significant but it was good to see her handle the contact well when it did arrive.
 
The Vassar forwards also found space and Kate Sworden and Meg Martin made some big inroads. It was Martin who drove through defenders to open the scoring and then it was the turn of Vassar flyhalf Aislinn Vinces-Dimas who got in on the act as she scored the second. At 12-0 Vassar looked comfortable after their three-hour bus ride.
 
However, Vassar did not deal with the restarts well enough in that first half. Too often the ball bounced or was spilled but Bloomsburg did not capitalize. Vassar did monopolize possession and territory apart from a couple Bloomsburg line breaks. Jennie To at scrumhalf was her usual industrious self, tackling on the fringes, distributing to forwards and backs, as well as cleaning up any loose ball.
 
Vassar prop forward Kate Sworden scored a try and then when Number 8 Oshana Reich went over one could sense that Vassar might score with any possession. Bloomsburg kept tackling but they were giving up yards. The fifth Vassar try came when Jennie To drove over from close range and the half finished with Bloomsburg getting a score of their own when their lock and co-captain charged through the defensive line after a period of Bloomsburg pressure. The scoreline was Brewers 31, Huskies 7.
 
In the second period both teams made a number of changes and it took a while before either unit settled and produced significant continuity. Bloomsburg competed more at the rucks and held the ball longer when they had possession. Vassar was guilty of tackles that allowed Bloomsburg ball carriers to get over the gain line. The Brewers need to be a lot better at driving their opponent back in contact.
 
The first 15 minutes of the second half were scoreless, as Bloomsburg varied their attack between one out runners and then pushing the ball wider. Too often Bloomsburg dropped the ball when trying to move it wide and it meant that Vassar gained territory. 
 
The Vassar set piece was solid enough throughout and it was the Brewers who eventually broke the ice when Emma Manzella scored a try to make it 36-7. Further tries from Jennie To and Kate Sworden rounded out the half. A win for the visitors and some confidence established but they must realize that getting over the gain line will become more and more difficult against better teams.
 
Team: 15 Rebekah Graham 14 Sophia Blush 13 Emma Manzella 12 Molly Lynch 11 Claudia Lasch 10 Aislinn Vinces-Dimas 9 Jennie To * 1 Meg Martin 2 Kaira Smith 3 Kate Sworden 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Maddie Crump 6 Marron McConnell 7 Danielle Kaminski 8 Oshana Reich *.
Subs:  Kira Nolan for Sophia Blush, Charlotte Benoit for Kaira Smith, Catherine Gladstone for Maddie Crump, Kayla Vasquez for Claudia Lasch, Halle Hutchinson for Oshana Reich, Aisha Malik for Miranda Scarlata.
 
Overall record: 6-0-0
Conference record: 4-0-0
 
Next weekend: Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 vs. Bowdoin College kickoff at 12:00 noon
 
Vassar College Women B 14 v 5 Bloomsburg University Women B
Tries: Claudia Lasch (1) & Molly Lynch (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vinces-Dimas (2).
 
To be fair, by this stage of the day Bloomsburg, short on numbers, was tired and depleted. To their credit they never threw in the towel and kept running hard and straight. In the final minutes of this game they laid siege in the Vassar 22 and there were some big tackles put in.
 
Earlier in the contest Vassar's pack dominated possession and it was just as well, for the Bloomsburg forwards packed a hard punch. The Vassar team launched their back division and both Meredith Leder and Victoria Wilk made significant line breaks. Once in behind the Bloomsburg defense Vassar was dictating the pace and they strove to win quick ball.

Rookie scrumhalf Julia Busby does not lack for decisiveness and although her pass needs a lot of work, no one will fault her tenacity. She had a couple of darting runs and made some tackles that must have inspired her teammates.

At the back, Vassar's Claudia Lasch made two one-on-one tackles that probably prevented scores, and she also slid through the Bloomsburg defense for a try.
 
It was a squad effort on the day and it was encouraging that the players were so supportive of each other and are trying to get to grips with doing what is required to be successful.
 
Thanks are most certainly due to the injured players who made the trip and helped out on the touchline. Everything ran smoothly.
 
Team: 15 Claudia Lasch 14 Charlotte Benoit 13 Victoria Wilk 12 Meredith Leder * 11 Molly Lynch 10 Aislinn Vinces-Dimas 9 Julia Busby 1 Yume Murphy 2 Morgan Hayman 3 Catherine Gladstone 4 Kristen Koeing 5 Halle Hutchinson 6 Jennie To 7 Oshana Reich 8 Aisha Malik. Subs: Emily Howell for Oshana Reich.