Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - In the Fall of 2018, at this stage of the season, the Vassar Women played in tundra-like conditions with snow having fallen heavily and the field needing to be plowed. In 2019 there was torrential monsoon-like rain, and a soggy field led to a switch of location. In 2020 there were no rugby playoffs on account of Covid-19. But this Fall, the Brewers ran out at 9:00 am, bathed in sunshine, and put the Colby College Mules to the sword. The final score was a convincing 53 points to 5.
Vassar College Women 53 v 5 Colby College Women
Tries: Emily Howell (6), Hannah Charlson (1), Kira Nolan (1), Claire Zickl (1).
Cons: Kira Nolan (2), Marie Claire Cicenia (1), Claire Zickl (1).
Despite the early start, a good crowd was on hand to watch this game, the first of 4 at the Farm being played back-to-back. The Vassar supporters included plenty of families, alumnae/i, and friends, and the Vassar Men's Rugby Team helped staff the event and could cheer on their rugby counterparts.
Vassar knew what needed to be done, and the team wasted no time getting into stride. The forwards kept the ball close and pressured the Colby defense with good support and determined rucking. It was no surprise that seven of the nine tries were scored by the forwards. But it was something of a surprise that six of them were scored by Emily Howell. The prolific Number 8 would be the first to credit her teammates and the effective rucking they employed to good effect.
But the Vassar back division played their part, and while the results didn't show as tries, the contribution was every bit as necessary. Time and again, the defensive line caught Colby behind the gain line, and it was led by the centers Kira Nolan and Lauren Thompson. These two have forged a good partnership this season, and it showed dividends in this area.
Six tries in the first half afforded Vassar a 34-0 lead, and in the second half, all replacements were used.
This was a reasonable team effort, and all the bench got into the action making valuable contributions. At 9 Julia Busby was her usual industrious self; Halle Hutchinson as ever tackled her heart out; Louise Ambler soared high in the lineouts, and the scrum as a whole dominated the set pieces.
The bench came on and helped with Katie Canavan taking a couple of strikes against the head; Lauren Showalter was strong carrying the ball; newcomer Claire Zickl scored with her second touch of the ball, having her first touch be a knock-on!
Kira Nolan, who had another fantastic game of the many she has played this Fall, took a knock and may be unavailable for the Sunday semifinal clash with Coast Guard. However, her teammates will want to make sure she gets the opportunity to lead out the team on Dec. 4 in a title game. To do that, they will need to defeat the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Sunday in the first semifinal.
Vassar College Women 2021-22:
Team v Colby College
15 Vivika Sheppard 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Lauren Thompson 12 Kira Nolan 11 Kasey Drake 10 Marie Claire Ciencia 9 Julia Busby 1 Sophia Florida 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Asia Baker 4 Louise Ambler 5 Grace Skakel 6 Hannah Charlson 7 Halle Hutchinson 8 Emily Howell.
Subs: Andie Authors for Asia Baker, Julie Geller for Julia Busby, Katie Canavan for Emily Howell, Isabel Snyder for Zoe Lynch, Lauren Showalter for Grace Skakel, Julia Reigrut for Kira Nolan, Jamie Marinez for Kasey Drake, Claire Zickl for Vivika Sheppard.
DNP: Peyton Wilder, Sophia Tang, Lucy Sinclair, Lydia Yu, Brittany Andrade, Dariana Serrano, Audrey Ehrhardt.
Injured: Mia Walsh, Claire Dwyer, Maeve Smith, Gillian Ciaccio.
Vassar College Women overall record: 9-1
American Collegiate Rugby Association
Fall Championship 2021
at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
Quarterfinals
Tri-State #1 Vassar College 53 v Rugby NE #1 Colby College 5
Rocky Mtn #1 Colorado School of Mines 19 v New England Wide #2 USCGA 20
New England Wide #1 University of Vermont 52 v Tri-State #2 Fairfield Uni. 20
Mid-Atlantic #1 Temple University 43 v Rocky Mtn #2 Colorado Mesa Uni. 12
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
Semifinals
10:00 am Vassar College v U.S. Coast Guard Academy Field I
12:00 pm Temple University v University of Vermont Field I
Consolation games
10:00 am Colorado School of Mines v Colby College Field II
12:00 pm Cancelled Colorado Mesa University v Fairfield University
