Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - The Vassar Women looked sharp in the warm-up before this Tri-State Conference semifinal against the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers.
Vassar College Women 47 v 0 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Women
Tries: Julia Busby (2), Kira Nolan (3), Emily Howell (3), Sophia Florida (1).
Cons: Kira Nolan (1).
Earlier this Fall, in the second game of the season on September 18, Vassar had defeated Rensselaer 58-15 but on that occasion had been without back-row forward Emily Howell. The visitors must have wished she was not playing today, for she ran amok making big yards and, along the way, scoring three tries. But this was not a one-player show, and Vassar had their best game of the season thus far, firing on all cylinders.
Rensselaer may have shipped a total of nine tries, but the game never felt like a runaway. The tackling and physicality were there throughout, and they snagged a couple of turnovers. The big difference was the Vassar defense as time and time again tackles were made behind the gain line, and that pressure forced errors.
Scrumhalf Julia Busby, filling in for the injured Mia Walsh, had a good afternoon directing traffic, and she was quick thinking with tap penalties. She opened Vassar's account, scoring the first and fourth tries of the match.
If one had to single out an individual as the best performer over the 80 minutes, it would have to be Kira Nolan. The crafty center consistently got over the gain line and was a thorn in the Rensselaer defense. She, like Howell, collected three tries and was also constantly making critical tackles bringing attackers to the ground. In the final five minutes, with the game done and dusted, she made four tackles inside the Vassar 22 to thwart any idea that the Vassar defense would be breached.
For a team to win, there is a host of unsung and hardworking honest grafters. Vassar's Halle Hutchinson does so many of the little things that keep a team on course. She was joined today by Sophia Florida, Hannah Charlson, and Grace Skakel, with all of them making their tackles, running straight, and working hard throughout the match.
The Vassar backs had a good day with few errors, and the forwards were outstanding in close support of one another, winning ruck after ruck to maintain possession and continuity. The forwards scrummaged well, and the lineout was improved from earlier in the year.
It was a game that was played at a good pace with both teams putting in solid shifts, and there was much to be pleased with from a Vassar perspective. The exciting thing is that this team is improving and developing the abilities to play rugby without the ball. Tackling is at a different level quite literally, and the physical side of the game is becoming a priority.
This result means that the Vassar Women will play next Saturday against the winner of Sunday's game (10/31/21) between Montclair State University and Fairfield University. Both Tri-State teams will advance to the American Collegiate Rugby Association (ACRA) playoffs with the Tri-State Champion getting a bye weekend on November 13 and the runner-up playing that weekend hosting the Rugby North East Conference # 2 seed.
Vassar College Women: 15 Vivika Sheppard 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Lauren Thompson 12 Kira Nolan 10 Marie Claire Cicenia 9 Julia Busby 1 Sophia Florida 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Asia Baker 4 Louise Ambler 5 Grace Skakel 6 Halle Hutchinson 7 Hannah Charlson 8 Emily Howell. Subs: Gillian Ciaccio for Asia Baker, Lauren Showalter for Grace Skakel, Katie Canavan for Hannah Thompson, Julie Geller for Zoe Lynch.
Overall record: 7-1
