ALBANY, N.Y. - The first conference game of 2021-22 bore witness to a lot of nervousness from all the players. The recent history of this match-up suggested that Vassar was favored, but it has always been a hard-hitting and competitive game. 

Vassar College Women 68 v 0 University at Albany Women

Tries: Emily Howell (5), Vivika Sheppard (4), Lauren Showalter (1), Asia Baker (1), Marie Claire Cicenia (1).

Cons: Kira Nolan (4).

Vassar won the toss and decided to kick off to apply immediate pressure on the home team. The Brewers came flying out of the blocks, and not only did they have territory but moments later possession of the ball. Senior Emily Howell, fresh on the back of 4 tries scored against the Alumnae last weekend, burst through, and it was 5-0. It was just what the doctor had ordered, and Vassar settled into a groove.

Kira Nolan was in the thick of the action for the full 80 minutes. She repeatedly got Vassar on the front foot, and that allied to her, organizing others around her was important throughout but most certainly early on.

At scrumhalf, Julia Busby was outstanding with good distribution and a threat around the fringes of the ruck. Flanker and sometimes Number 8 Halle Hutchinson set an excellent example with her tackling producing a real cruncher in the last 5 minutes, and the running of Emily Howell and Vivika Sheppard was just too much for Albany to handle. The Number 8 and fullback deserve praise for their decisive running and enthusiasm.

The Vassar back division attack was well orchestrated by M.C. Cicenia, who stayed calm despite pressure, more often than not because of players offside. In the second half, she went to fullback so that rookie Maeve Smith could get game time at ten and when the Albany fullback missed touch Cicenia gleefully caught the ball and scampered over for a try!

In the first half, Vassar set out her stall and consistently got over the gain line, and that allowed the backs some time and space. So often, it was the basics done well that led to openings. Getting a couple of extra yards in contact, good ball placement, or a well-timed pass close to the defensive line and voilà opportunity knocked.

Sophomore Lauren Showalter dived over for Vassar's third try following a succession of rucks. Rookie Asia Baker showed the Albany defense a clean pair of heels, and it all added up to a convincing win.

Vassar College Women: 15 Vivika Sheppard 14 Clair Dwyer 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 Hannah Charlson 6 Lauren Showalter 7 Halle Hutchinson 8 Emily Howell. Subs: Gillian Ciaccio for Hannah Thompson, Casey Drake for Vivika Sheppard, Grace Skakel for Hannah Charlson, Sophie Tang for Lauren Showalter, Zoe Lynch for Lauren Thompson, Andie Authers for Emily Howell.

Overall record: 1-0

Next: Saturday, September 18, 2021 

Vassar College Women at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Albany, NY KO 12:00 pm