POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - It poured with rain on Saturday, and the forecast was cloudy and 43 degrees for Sunday. It turned out it was cold, windy, and there were some light flurries of snow! Hardly your typical 7s weather!

The Brewers hosted three schools, SUNY-New Paltz Women, Marist College Women, and SUNY-Maritime Women. Vassar and Marist entered both an A-side and a B-side, which meant three games against the same opponent. There was also a men's competition, and overall there were 18 games played in a round-robin format, so approximately 180 - 200 students represented their respective schools on the rugby field. 

Games started at noon, and the competition concluded by 4:15 pm. A big thank you is owed to Susan Higgins of Vassar Sports Medicine, who covered the event, and to all the players who helped with the day's logistics and field cleanup. The referees were supplied by the Rugby Referees Society of New York, and everything ran smoothly.

Hudson Valley 7s - Women

Vassar College Women B 15 v 10 Marist College Women B

Tries: Zoe Lynch (3).

Vassar got off to a roaring start as Andie Authers took the opening kick-off, and just like any world-class prop, she ran straight and hard, carrying would-be tacklers with her. The ball was recycled, and it was not long before Zoe Lynch had put Vassar ahead 5-0. Another Lynch try just before the half, and Vassar was cruising. In the second half Marist bounced back but not before Lynch made it 15-5 and enough of a cushion to give the Brewers victory 15-10.

Team: 14 Isabel Rodriguez 12 Hannah Charlson 10 Louise Ambler 9 Zoe Lynch 1 Sophia Florida 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Andie Authers. Subs: Sam Tang, Katie Canavan, Brittany Andrade, Julia Reigrut, Grace Skakel.

Vassar College Women A 27 v 0 SUNY New Paltz Women A

Tries: Caeli Porette (2), Emily Howell (1), Lauren Showalter (1), Julia Busby (1).

Cons: Julia Reigrut (1).

This game saw the debut of Caeli Porette, and while she will want to forget her first two touches on the ball, both knock-ons, she more than compensated with strong evasive running and scored two tries.

This game was a promising start for the Brewers once they had settled down, they moved the ball exceptionally well. Captain Emily Howell was her usual "all over the field" self, and Lauren Showalter got the third try just before the half to make it 15-0. Vassar ran out of convincing winners 27-0.

Team: 14 Claire Zickl 12 Caeli Porette 10 Kasey Drake 9 Julia Busby 1 Julia Reigrut 2 Emily Howell 3 Lauren Showalter. Subs: Hannah Thompson, Sophia Florida, Grace Skakel, Hannah Charlson.

Vassar College Women B 7 v 5 Marist College Women B

Tries: Zoe Lynch (1).

Cons: Zoe Lynch (1).

Another Vassar rookie shone in her second rugby appearance as Isabel Rodriguez tackled well and ran with authority. But the Marist defense was more staunch this time, and in a tense defensive struggle, Vassar took a 7-0 lead before Marist fought back, and it finished 7-5.

Team: 14 Isabel Rodriguez 12 Hannah Charlson 10 Louise Ambler 9 Zoe Lynch 1 Grace Skakel 2 Katie Canavan 3 Sam Tang. Subs: Brittany Andrade, Andie Authers, Julia Reigrut, Sophia Florida, Hannah Thompson.

Vassar College Women A 35 v 0 SUNY Maritime College Women A

Tries: Emily Howell (2), Caeli Porette (2), Julia Busby (1), Claire Zickl (2). 

The Vassar Women hit their stride from the get-go in this match, and the number of strike runners was too much for the inexperienced SUNY-Maritime College team. The Vassar ball movement was better in this game, and the game's overall pace was a good tempo. 7 tries and a clean sheet were just what the doctor had ordered.

Team: 14 Claire Zickl 12 Caeli Porette 10 Kasey Drake 9 Julia Busby 1 Emily Howell 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Sophia Florida. Subs: Lauren Showalter, Grace Skakel, Hannah Charlson, Julia Reigrut.

Vassar College Women B 0 v 5 Marist College Women B

Marist College had an extensive roster and did a good job rotating players. It seemed to pay dividends as they battled Vassar in this third match-up of the B-sides on the day. The cold weather made handling difficult, but both sides, to their credit, tried to play. Vassar was a tad guilty of ball carriers getting isolated, and in a tight contest, it hurt.

Team: 14 Isabel Rodriguez 12 Alexa Gwynn 10 Louise Ambler 9 Julie Reigrut 1 Grace Skakel 2 Katie Canavan 3 Brittany Andrade. Subs: Dariana Serrano, Andie Authers, Zoe Lynch, Sophia Florida, Sam Tang.

Vassar College Women A 22 v 15 Marist College Women A

Tries: Emily Howell (2), Caeli Porette (2).

Cons: Claire Zickl (1). 

Both teams entered this game at 2-0, so effectively, it was the championship game. Vassar took the lead through a now patented Emily Howell arcing run. She doesn't look quick, but she runs good lines and seems to glide past defenders. But Marist struck right back, and some forceful short charges worked for them, and it was 5-5. But the Brewers worked the ball to novice Porette, and she twisted and turned out of contact breaking free to put Vassar ahead again 12-5. Claire Zickl's kick added the extra 2 points.

Still, only a single score separated the sides going into the second half, but Porette broke away, and it was 17-5.

Vassar may have taken their collective foot off the gas after Howell got her second try, and a lead of 22-5 seemed as if the game was safe. But the Red Foxes had plenty left in the tank and came charging back. Two tries, the latter as time expired, made it a 22-15 win for the Brewers and a lot to build on over the coming weeks.

Team: 14 Claire Zickl 12 Caeli Porette 10 Kasey Drake 9 Julia Busby 1 Lauren Showalter 2 Emily Howell 3 Hannah Charlson. Subs: Louise Ambler, Grace Skakel, Julia Reigrut, Hannah Thompson, Sophia Florida.

Vassar College Women 7s record 2022: 

A-side 3-0

B-side 2-1

Next: Sunday, April 3, 2022, at the University at Albany 7s with U. at Albany, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Siena College KO noon.