HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The Greek myth of Tantalus is well known, and the abiding memory is of an outstretched hand just unable to grasp the succulent fruit that hangs from the boughs of a tree. The Vassar men battled back to tie the game at 19-19 with just 7 minutes remaining. The Brewers had momentum and belief, but just as with Tantalus, it was inches away when they reached for the succulent fruit of victory, and the hosts Hofstra prevailed.
Vassar College Men 19 v 31 Hofstra University Men
Tries: Liam Manion (2), Casey Draskovich (1).
Cons: Olly Skeet Browning (2).
The early heavy rain meant that Vassar kept things tight, but the visitors were guilty of just too many mistakes that caused loss of the ball or field possession.
Hofstra went up 7-0 before Vassar had even gotten off the bus. Vassar kicked off and conceded a needless penalty when Ali Sadek thought the ball was out of a ruck. This gifted Hofstra field position as they kicked to touch. They caught and drove a lineout, then moved the ball through the hands, and lack of a defensive line and missed tackles made them look good.
The Vassar backs rarely put any defensive pressure on their opponents, and Hofstra could make three and four passes getting the ball to the outside.
Even with time and space, Hofstra didn't have matters their way. The Vassar scrum was dominating the home team.
Vassar evened matters up when scrumhalf Liam Manion intelligently dived over following Hector Contreras' pick and drive for the line. At 7-7 and with it looking like the scrum platform was solid, the Brewers must have felt this game was there for the taking.
But a series of three penalties led to a Hofstra try and a 12-7 lead. Vassar could not control the ball, and too often, poor placement led to turnovers. The game stayed at 12-7 for the remainder of the first half, and although Vassar had the edge, they squandered the ball.
After about ten minutes of the second half, Hofstra went ahead when a couple of penalties and missed tackles let them in, and it was now 19-7. Vassar stuck to their plan and ground down the opposition with small yardage gains, and Hofstra kept giving away penalties.
After seven consecutive penalties, with four at the goal line mid-way into the second half, eventually, the referee gave a yellow card.
It was fitting that Casey Draskovich scored from close range because the flanker never stopped working throughout the game. It put Vassar right back in the picture at 14-19, and the Brewers went hunting for the next try and perhaps a lead.
Again Hofstra kept committing penalties, and a further four once again put Vassar within range. The Brewers finally squeezed over when Liam Manion got his second of the day, and the game was all tied up and 19 points each.
But the final 7 minutes will make tough viewing for the squad as Hofstra moved the ball left and right to outflank the Vassar defense to their credit.
It's still early days in this Fall season, and plenty for Vassar to improve and develop, but they will probably have to win out their remaining divisional games to make the Championship Cup playoffs.
Team: 15 Carl Aller 14 Adam Vazquez 13 Darby Waller 12 Rowan Roshong 11 Merrick Rubinstein 10 Olly Skeet Browning 9 Liam Manion 1 James Scarabino 2 Tyler Harber 3 Ali Sadek 4 Zach Neri 5 Alex Pappas 6 John Dean 7 Casey Draskovich 8 Hector Contreras. Subs: Kaleb Brabham for John Dean, James Reece for Hector Contreras.
Overall record: 3-1
Next: Sunday, October 17, 2021
Vassar College Men at SUNY-Maritime Men KO 12:00 pm
