POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - This USA Rugby National Playoff Round of 32 game pitted the number one-seeded Vassar College Women against the Northeast Region number eight-seed, the University of Vermont at Vassar Farm. 

The visitors finished third in the New England Wide Collegiate Rugby Conference and earlier this fall the Catamounts defeated the U.S. Coast Guard Academy 40-31 so the expectation was this would be a tough game. Certainly, the Vermont team never gave up, tackled throughout the full 80 minutes and ran hard off the fringes. But Vassar dealt with the attacks and quickly settled into their own patterns in an uncompromising fashion controlling the game from start to finish.

Vassar College 76 v 5 University of Vermont Women
Tries: Alexa Mousley (1), Catherine Gladstone (1), Emma Manzella (4), Meg Martin (2), Charlotte Benoit (1), Julia Busby (1), Yuming Ren (1), Molly Lynch (1), Caroline James (1) & Mia Walsh (1).
Cons: Meg Martin (3).

The Vassar Women showed real shape and poise in this playoff contest against the University of Vermont and over the 80 minutes 6 backs and 4 forwards scored tries. Although a total of 14 tries were scored the game never felt like a rout. The UVM players constantly tackled and fought so Vassar had to build through multiple phases and breakdown the defense.

The forwards did push the UVM pack around in the set piece and in the loose more often than not it was Vassar that recycled the ball. The lineouts, few though they were, were also solid. So with the Brewers monopolizing possession and territory the dam had to break. Alexa Mousley ran good lines and opened the scoring and she was followed by Catherine Gladstone who took a more direct route.

Emma Manzella who started on the wing and later moved briefly to her more familiar position of outside center scored 4 tries and as has been the case all year looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

Vermont probed with runners close to the rucks and sporadically moved the ball wider but they got little return for their efforts. There was a good 10 minute spell as they hammered away at the Vassar goal line but tackles were made and the attack repelled.

At the half it was 32-0 as Meg Martin, Charlotte Benoit and Julia Busby went over. 

In the second half Vassar put in their replacements and it was very satisfying to see no significant drop off in performance. The forwards provided the platform as 6 of the 8 tries were run in by them.

Next up for Vassar is Colby College on Saturday November 23rd, 2019 at Vassar. The Brewers must still work on being more consistent with their tackling and more dominant but this game was a good confidence booster. 

Team: 15 Molly Lynch 14 Julia Busby 13 Alexa Mousley 12 Caroline James 11 Emma Manzella 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Mia Walsh 1 Meg Martin 2 Charlotte Benoit 3 Kaira Smith 4 Catherine Gladstone 5 Maddie Crump 6 Kayla Vasquez 7 Sophia Blush 8 Halle Hutchinson.

Subs: Yuming Ren for Kaira Smith, Kira Nolan for Emma Manzella, Hannah Witts for Maddie Crump, Sophia Florida for Sophia Blush, Marie Claire Cicenia for Aislinn Vences-Dimas & Morgan Hayman for Catherine Gladstone.

Next: Sat. & Sun. Nov. 23 & 24, 2019 USA Rugby Fall Championship Northeast Regional Championship at Vassar College. (12 teams)
Saturday November 23, 2019 - Round of 16 game Vassar College Women versus Colby College Women at Vassar Farm, Poughkeepsie, NY,  Kick-off  TBA.

Overall record: 11-0-0


Immediately following the Vassar College Women's playoff game with the University of Vermont that the Brewers won convincingly 76-5, it was the turn of the Vassar B-side to display their skills.  Of the 15 that took the field 11 were rookies, 5 playing their first game of rugby ever and the remaining 6 having played just 3 games. From the touchline it was a case of wondering what this game would look like and could they fashion structure rather than be immersed in mayhem!

Vassar College Women "B" 52 v 10 University of Vermont Women "B"
Tries: Hannah Charlson (2), Hannah Witts (1), Kira Nolan (1), Hannah Thompson (2), Vivika Sheppard (2), Yuming Ren (1) & Aislinn Vences-Dimas (1).
Cons: Marie Claire Cicenia (1).

Ten tries, count 'em! Yes, ten tries and a performance to talk about for years to come. The Vassar Women rookies wasted no time getting into their stride and it was pretty to watch.

The pack dominated up front and these are good signs for the future with 4 freshmen in that mix of 8. The 3 Hannah's, not to be confused with the 3 Amigos of current political discourse, not only defended and ran well but they collected 5 tries between them! These are the players that have been at practice consistently and have worked steadily to get better. At Number 8 Sophia Florida found oceans of space as she picked from the scrum and made big yards. Support was on hand and it was vassar running at a dazed Vermont defense such was the speed of the ball from the ruck.

The team did have the experience of Kira Nolan at 9 and she scored a try but more important she kept the team directed. Her service to freshman flyhalf Marie Claire Cicenia was swift and it allowed the backs to get in on the scoring as well. Senior Victoria Wilk punched over the gain line regularly and rookie Vivika Sheppard showed that she has potential with some fast feet.

All in all it was a tough day for Vermont as the A-side shipped 14 tries and their B-side leaked 10. The challenge now for these Vassar Women is to up the intensity in practice rather than sit on their laurels.

Team: 15 Julia Busby 14 Kasey Drake 13 Vivika Sheppard 12 Victoria Wilk 11 Anya Scott-Wallace 10 Marie Claire Cicenia 9 Kira Nolan 1 Brenda Dzaringa 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Morgan Hayman 4 Hannah Witts 5 Zoe Peterson 6 Hannah Charlson 7 Louise Ambler 8 Sophia Florida.

Subs: Fiona Madden for Zoe Peterson, Emma Manzella for Julia Busby, Yuming Ren for Morgan Hayman, Aislinn Vences-Dimas for Marie Claire Cicenia.