NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - One could not have wished for a more beautiful, sunny and warm day in the Mid-Hudson Valley. The Vassar Women took to the road and crossed the river for a match-up with SUNY-New Paltz.

Vassar College 61 v 0 SUNY-New Paltz

Tries: Maddie Crump (1), Kayla Vasquez (2), Julia Busby (1), Emma Manzella (1), Molly Lynch (2), Emily Howell (2), Charlotte Benoit (1) & Caroline James (1).
Cons: Aislinn Vences-Dimas (3).

In the opening 10 minutes of this match Vassar showed some good attacking shape and a degree of continuity as they received the kick-off and went through several phases.

The service from Kira Nolan at scrumhalf was good and the forwards did a good job of winning the ball at the breakdown. A series of New Paltz penalties for offside were punished by the powerful boot of Vassar's Meg Martin. The former goalkeeper thumped the ball 40 plus yards and New Paltz found itself just meters from their own in-goal.

But Vassar's lineout is not yet up to scratch and two lost throws let the Hawks off the hook. In addition, there was a little "white-line fever" as players attempted passes when they were hauled down and another opportunity was lost.

It was perhaps fitting that the first try of Fall 2019 was scored from close range as Maddie Crump picked at the base of a ruck and went over. Vassar's second score was also from close range and it was Kayla Vasquez, aka "Roadrunner," who provided her best impersonation of a meerkat when she popped up, peeked and then darted over the line. Although productive on this occasion she will be better served staying low and driving through.

Vassar was starting to find a groove and certainly the forwards looked comfortable. The backs were having gain line success but the running lines do need a lot of work.

Vassar's third try came from a scrum and Nolan fed Julia Busby and she wrong footed the defender to dive in. The score was 17-0 and New Paltz had barely had the ball. 

Vassar caught the ensuing kick-off and Emma Manzella zipped up the left touchline. She was supported well and the ball was taken on by Caroline Jones. The Brewers went through six phases that took the ball from the left touchline to the right and covered a full 40 yards up the field. Then the ball was whipped away from the ruck and it was Manzella that dived in for the try. This was a good passage of play with quick ball being won at the breakdown allied to strong running and good ball placement. At mid-way through the first half it was Vassar 24 and New Paltz 0.

The next score from Vassar fullback Molly Lynch resulted from the forwards punching around the rucks and then the ball being swung wide. Her second and the team's sixth try followed as the ball went from touchline to touchline. New Paltz were chasing shadows.

At 36-0 after 40 minutes the result of the game was not in question but Vassar needed to address the poor defending they had exhibited on the few occasions New Paltz had had the ball.

Emily Howell showed the New Paltz defense a clean pair of heels early in the second half to put Vassar further ahead and while her running game is developing and she can be a threat she has to be more dominant in the rucks. At a couple of rucks she swung around the side of the defender when she needed to stay square and drive them directly back.

In the center Caroline James had a very good game as she made a lot of yards after being tackled and also tidied up loose ball. She was finally rewarded right at the end of the match with a try.

Halle Hutchinson was consistent with her tackling and her teammates could take a lesson from her attitude and technique. She thwarted a couple of New Paltz attacks as the home team saw more of the ball in the second 40 minutes but they could not establish any territory and so there was no significant pressure.


Vassar's Halle Hutchinson on the move

All in all it was a promising start and there is plenty to build upon.

Team: 15 Molly Lynch 14 Julia Busby 13 Emma Manzella 12 Caroline James 11 Claudia Lasch 10 Aislinn Vences-Dimas 9 Kira Nolan 1 Meg Martin 2 Charlotte Benoit 3 Kaira Smith 4 Maddie Crump 5 Catherine Gladstone 6 Emily Howell 7 Kayla Vasquez 8 Halle Hutchinson.

Subs: Sophia Blush for Claudia Lasch, Morgan Hayman for Catherine Gadstone, Mia Walsh for Kira Nolan, Rebekah Graham for Molly Lynch, Eva Gomez for Emily Howell, Yuming Ren for Maddie Crump.

Reserves: Vidalia Rubie, Gillian Ciaccio, Louise Ambler, Alexa Mousley, Hannah Witts, Sophia Florida, Marie Claire Cicenia, Hannah Charlson, Lauren Thompson, Hannah Thompson.

Unavailable: Samantha Hwang, Kristine Drake & Yume Murphy.

Next: Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Siena College KO 11:30 am

Overall record: 1-0-0