Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - The dictionary definition of the noun "Chaos" reads "Complete disorder and confusion." Vassar was able to enforce some degree of order and clarity in a game where the visitors from New Jersey sought disarray and bedlam! So kudos to the Vassar men for taming their unruly opponents, and outscoring Montclair by five tries to two.
Vassar College Men 27 v 18 Montclair State University Men
Tries: Dmitrios Tzepos (1), Hector Contreras (1), Olly Skeet Browning (1), Ali Sadek (1), Penalty Try (1).
The omens were not good for the Brewers as many players were unavailable earlier in the week.
Vassar's back division started with a glaring defensive lapse as they let a player slip through untouched in the 10-12 channel. The last thing the team had wanted to do was give the visitors any momentum, but VC was looking at 5-0 after just a few minutes. But Vassar's forwards took on their counterparts and out rucked and outpaced them. Along the way, there were some big hits. But the bruises were worth it as eventually lock Dmitrios Tzepos squeezed over and tied the game up. Tzepos has had to bide his time, but he must have felt it was worth it after collecting that score.
Vassar then went ahead when Number 8 Hector Contreras bulldozed his way over from a 5-meter scrum. Credit is due to the front three, for they got the upper hand and were ruthless. In addition, James Scarabino had a number of his trademark bullocking runs where he bounced would-be tacklers off and bid them farewell.
Co-Captain Casey Draskovich stepped into the scrumhalf role, and despite a couple of wayward passes, he did pretty well.
Montclair did not take matters lying down and responded to go up 12-10 when they scored down the left side in broken play, and Vassar missed tackles. But Vassar then witnessed a moment of magic when flyhalf Olly Skeet Browning opted to run to his left rather than pass, and he outpaced the defenders to put Vassar up 15-12.
Montclair opted to kick a penalty just before the half and tied the game at 15-15.
There were no changes to personnel or strategy at the half, but Vassar needed to put more resources into the rucks, cut out the penalties, and generally tidy up their game. The second 40 did not go to plan, and some bizarre errors kept MSU in the match. On several occasions, players were held up, and the ball turned over as the maul finished with the ball engulfed. The dynamic run of prop forward Ali Sadek put Vassar ahead 20-15 before MSU replied with a penalty to make it 20-18, and then came the grand finale.
Vassar finally worked the ball out to rookie Zach Neri on the left-wing, and as he neared the line, he was taken high, and the referee awarded a penalty try. Moments later, the game was whistled over, and with it, a Vassar victory was in the books.
The Brewers now have a week off to heal and prepare for Drew University on November 7.
Team: 15 Adam Vazquez 14 Merrick Rubinstein 13 Darby Waller 12 Rowan Roshong 11 Zach Neri 10 Olly Skeet Browning 9Casey Draskovich 1 James Scarabino 2 Tyler Harber 3 Ali Sadek 4 Dmitrios Tzepos 5 Alex Pappas 6 Leon Moore 7 Brian Cuautle Garcia 8 Hector Contreras. Subs: Carl Aller for Rowan Roshong, Jack Gibberd, Duvan Aaron Lopez, James Reece.
Overall record: 4-2
Next: Sunday, November 7, 2021
Vassar College Men versus Drew University Men KO 12:00 pm
