PORTSMOUTH, RI - The sun came out and it was a balmy 65 degrees as the Vassar Women took on U.Mass., Amherst in a semifinal contest at the Beast of the East Tournament. The Minutemen are always a physical team and often prove very awkward because they are so combative. This game was no different but Vassar matched the physicality and then some, emerging emphatic winners scoring 6 tries and keeping a clean sheet defensively.

Vassar College Women 34 v 0 U.Mass., Amherst Women
Tries: Emma Manzella (2), Oshana Reich (1), Kira Nolan (1), Caroline James (1), Jennie To (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vences-Dimas (2).

This was a rock solid performance from the Vassar women as they took hold of the game from start to finish. The forwards were direct and hard running and the backs continued to fire on all cylinders. Mistakes were kept to a minimum although tactically Vassar could have been a little bit more streetwise.

Early penalties allowed U.Mass to get good field position but some strong tackling held them at bay before U.Mass conceded a penalty and Vassar's Meg Martin cleared the danger with a booming kick to touch. In fact, the former soccer goalkeeper had a wonderful game pushing the ball deep into the U.Mass half. The first lineout was driven well and it was something of a shock that when the next lineout took place at the 5-meter line Vassar opted to go off the top rather than drive again for what must surely have been a try.

In any event later Emma Manzella cut a great line through and it was 5-0 to the Brewers. Five became 12 when Oshana Reich confirmed that she was the best Number 8 on display at the tournament crashing over for a try. Manzella added a second to her name and Vassar was rolling along nicely.

The Vassar forwards produced good quick ball, particularly in the second half and U.Mass never truly threatened save for a couple of strong individual runs.

The Brewers used the full bench in the second half and the ever present Kira Nolan scored. Jennie To went to flanker and ran right over the U.Mass defense as did Caroline James. 

The win, Vassar's 19th of the year, set up the predicted final against the University of Connecticut.

Team: 15 Molly Lynch 14 Julia Busby 13 Emma Manzella 12 Caroline James 11 Mia Walsh 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Jennie To 1 Meg Martin 2 Marron McConnell 3 Sabrina Perry 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Catherine Gladstone 6 Emily Howell 7 Kate Sworden 8 Oshana Reich. Subs: Sophia Blush for Mia Walsh, Victoria Wilk for Emma Manzella, Meredith Leder for Caroline James, Kaira Smith for Sabrina Perry, Morgan Hayman for Marron McConnell, Eva Gomez for Catherine Gladstone.

Championship Final
Vassar College Women 7 v 14 University of Connecticut Women
Tries: Sabrina Perry (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vences-Dimas (1).

Last year in this Championship Final these two same teams battled through 2 overtime periods before Vassar won with a penalty kick 15-12. It was a bruising encounter and tested the metal of players and spectators alike such was the back and forth of the contest.

The 2019 Final was played under a grey sky with a light drizzle of rain and it was another close affair. Vassar began well, if a little tentative, and pushed down into the UConn 22 but the Huskies held and eventually cleared their line. Vassar was playing down the slope on the championship field and looked like their forwards running around the corner combined with some pick and go surges would produce tries. 

But it was UConn that found space on the blindside and the speedy left wing darted some 40 yards for a try. A 7-0 lead obtained but Vassar responded well and really took the game to the Connecticut women. A number of forward surges after a lineout had been driven allowed Sabrina Perry to score and Aislinn Veinces-Dimas slotted the conversion to tie up the game. It finished 7-7 at the half and it seemed that Vassar had shed the tentative jitters and would kick-on in the second period.

But to be frank Vassar barely managed a single salvo as UConn monopolized the ball and kept battering the Brewers defense. Hats off to the VC women for withstanding multiple phases as wave after wave of UConn ball carriers were tackled. The problem was one of field position as Vassar found herself pinned inside the 22. Even when the ball was turned over it was a full 80 meters to the Huskies goal line!

To a woman the Vassar players stood up and were counted. It was a defensive stand worthy of the Alamo status.

Time and time again Vassar built a defensive wall but missed opportunities to steal possession or lost the battle of the gain line on occasion. Amazing tackles from Howell, Busby, Reich, Gladstone and Reich saved the day and indeed all the team had big defensive moments.

But in the end, with just 5 minutes left, UConn crashed over and took a 14-7 lead. It was to prove enough for them to clinch the championship. Vassar's Aislinn Vences-Dimas did intercept a pass moments later at the UConn 10-meter line but at the ensuing ruck Vassar was turned over.

There were so many good take-aways from this weekend as the Brewers had traveled with a tiny squad and deserve huge credit for their efforts. Without 15 players including 4 of the starters in the pack and fullback Rebekah Graham they had taken UConn down to the wire. 

Vassar had no flankers other than freshman Emily Howell who has played just 2 games in that position. Kudos to prop forward Kate Sworden for filling in as openside. Ditto Kaira Smith, also a front row player, playing in the back 5. Eva Gomez played her first rugby game and freshman Mia Walsh debuted on the wing. Molly Lynch was like the Rock of Gibraltar at fullback and the scrum didn't take a backward step in all 4 games.

The team leadership duo of Jennie To and Oshana Reich were exemplary and played so well in all of the games. It was a shame they did not finish with a win but they led by example and certainly are deserving of a ton of praise.

One would be remiss not to mention the great bench Vassar had this weekend. These young women provided some timely rest for the starters and just as important encouraged their team mates throughout the weekend.

Thanks are also due to Ireland National Team player, Gillian Bourke for her comments and analysis this weekend.

The team will learn from this defeat and be better for it.

Team: 15 Molly Lynch 14 Julia Busby 13 Emma Manzella 12 Caroline James 11 Mia Walsh 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Jennie To 1 Meg Martin 2 Marron McConnell 3 Sabrina Perry 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Catherine Gladstone 6 Emily Howell 7 Kate Sworden 8 Oshana Reich. Subs: Eva Gomez for Sabrina Perry, Kaira Smith for Catherine Gladstone.

Overall record: 19-1-0
 
Next: Saturday, April 20th, 2019 versus Manhattanville College at Vassar Farm KO 1:00 pm