POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Hot the heels of their "Sweet 16" win over the University of Maine on Saturday the Vassar College Women kicked-off against Bryant University at the Farm Sunday morning. The Brewers pretty much controlled matters for 68 minutes and led 34-7. It seemed that the game was done and dusted but the last 12 minutes saw the visiting Bulldogs score 3 tries from long range and for a moment an improbable comeback seemed a possibility.

Vassar College Women 41 v 24 Bryant University
Tries: Oshana Reich (1), Jennie To (1), Marron McConnell (1), Kaitlin Prado (3), Maddie Crump (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vences-Dimas (2) & Meg Martin (1).

There was a marked improvement in certain aspects of the Brewers game on this comparatively balmy Sunday. The awful wet and cold conditions of Saturday were no longer an issue although parts of the field were still muddy, consequentially handling errors were less and the game had a lot more shape to it.

It was another strong day for the Vassar pack on the back of the hard slog of Saturday. Kudos to the squad of forwards for putting in another big shift. Prop Kaitlin Prado scored 3 tries and exemplified the forwards fighting spirit, she was explosive, honorary and hard working and that enabled her to get extra yards. Vassar's Oshana Reich, was again a standout player, particularly in defense and it was the Number 8 who scored Vassar's first try from 10 yards out. Then of course there was the non-stop perpetual motion of Jennie To. By virtue of her position she is at the very center of everything and she excelled in attack and defense and fittingly she scored Vassar's second try. The Bryant players were guilty of not getting onside at the rucks and a yellow card was issued for repeated infringement. 

The Vassar lineout functioned well and the Brewers should have collected a try in the first half when they drove over only to have the ball held up. Throughout the game the Vassar scrum provided a steady platform but it will need to be even more aggressive in the future.

In the backs Molly Lynch had another top day although it began inauspiciously with two dropped passes but she carried the bulk of the workload and got over the gain line. However, it was good to see the ball moved to other strike runners and for them to reap the rewards at various times. At fullback Vassar's Rebekah Graham made a couple of clutch tackles, literally and figuratively, knocking the wind out of the opposition!

However, Bryant got into the game when they made a line break out wide after Caroline James missed a tackle and the fullback offloaded to the left wing and she showed good pace to run in from about 60 yards. At 10-7 Bryant again attacked down the left but Vassar scrambled to stop them.

Bryant had good defensive line speed and it took awhile for the Vassar backs to adjust but eventually they did and both centers, Lynch and Manzella, went through for good gains later in the match

The Vassar players did tend to turn the ball over too often which wasted some good periods of continuity and despite dominating possession and territory it remained 10-7 for a time. On the plus side of the equation the Vassar fringe defense was solid. Bryant runners were driven back and rarely made significant yards.

Marron McConnell went over to give Vassar some breathing room at 15-7 when she went over very low for a deserved try. The gap opened wider when Kaitlin Prado scored the first of her hattrick and Aislinn Vences-Dimas slotted the conversion. Now at 22-7 Vassar led by 3 scores and the first half came to a close.

The second half started with a Vassar turnover but that was quickly rectified when Oshana Reich leveled the Bryant outside center and the ball was spilled. Vassar swung the ball around and made good yards with Jennie To pulling the strings at nine. Prado scored and 22 became 29 and later it was 34. Most of the second half Vassar did well getting low in the rucks and running hard. Emma Manzella was put through and the forwards were quick to support. Bryant may have known where the attacks were coming but they conceded big yards regularly even when they made solid tackles.

Then the wheels on the wagon began to wobble in that last 12 minutes. Vassar lost a lineout and the ball was pushed wide quickly. Credit is due the Bryant backs for taking the space on offer as the ball went to the wing and she collected a try. A second try followed a turnover at a ruck so for both those two scores Vassar was thinking attack and needed to set up quickly to defend. The third try was from the restart and no-one made a tackle! At 34-24 with 7 minutes left the Vassar forwards reasserted their dominance. First they secured the ball. Then they ran it hard at the rejuvenated defense but could not stop Maddie Crump from plowing over. Game set and match at 41-24.

Vassar moves on the the Final 4 to be held at the Matthews Sportsplex in Charlotte, NC on December 1 & 2, 2018. The squad will rest up over Thanksgiving and then prepare for this Nationals weekend. It's the same 4 teams as last year in the mix - Winona State, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, University of Cincinnati and the Brewers(Specific game details to follow when announced by USA Rugby). 

Congratulations to all the squad, not just the players on the field this weekend. It takes a squad effort to make this possible and hopefully the intensity at practice will go up a notch so that the players are properly prepared.

Team: 15 Rebekah Graham 14 Caroline James 13 Emma Manzella 12 Molly Lynch 11 Julia Busby 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Jennie To 1 Kate Sworden 2 Marron McConnell 3 Kaitlin Prado 4 Catherine Gladstone 5 Miranda Scarlata 6 Halle Hutchinson 7 Danielle Kaminski 8 Oshana Reich.
Subs: Meg Martin for Marron McConnell, Maddie Crump for Halle Hutchinson, Charlotte Benoit for Aislinn Vences-Dimas, Kira Nolan for Molly Lynch, Aisha Malik for Catherine Gladstone.

Overall record: 12-0-0
Conference record: 4-0-0

Next: Saturday & Sunday December 1 & 2, 2018 at the USA Rugby National Women's Division II Fall Championship Final 4 in Charlotte, NC