Portsmouth, RI - Finally, a spring day with sunshine and warmth albeit in Portsmouth, RI. Coincidently, the Vassar College Women found themselves in familiar territory playing 15s for the first time this Spring. The opponent was Boston College, and the event was the Beast of the East Tournament. The Brewers played BC in 2018, winning 36-0, and again they met in 2019 when the result was 34-5 and both were competitive games. So no-one was expecting anything different this year. But it turns out that BC have only played one 15s game this Spring and is predominantly a team of novices so allied to Covid, depleting their experience base proved an insurmountable situation.

Vassar College Women 70 v 0 Boston College Women

Tries: Emily Howell (4), Julia Busby (1), Caeli Porette (4), Vivika Sheppard (1), Asia Baker (2).

Cons: Julia Reigrut (5).

The Vassar Women were so excited to be back on the field playing 15s having been focused on 7s this Spring that there were smiles a plenty. 

Emily Howell, a strong runner in both versions of the game, could barely contain her enthusiasm so it was no surprise when from the first scrum she picked and ran right galloping over to score from 35 yards. Howell has scored 37 tries this season in 12 games, all in the Fall, and although she is not one for personal records she is fast closing in on the College record of 44 tries in a single academic year. Former scrumhalf Margaret Kwateng scored 44 in 15 games back in 2013-14 and Oshana Reich scored 44 in 21 games in 2018-19. Howell would add a further 3 to the opening try and now has 41.

Just as impressive was rookie Caeli Porette as they bagged 4 tries in what was their first 15s game ever! The former Women's Lacrosse player found gaps with ease and blew past defenders with nifty footwork and good pace. 

The Vassar forwards dominated the loose play and the BC players were shell-shocked at the breakdown. The tries came fast and frequent with Julia Reigrut slotting 5 conversions along the way.

It was good to see some rugby basics done well even if the pressure was not particularly significant. Good ball placement and players coming on to the ball at pace allowed for quick rucks and in turn time and space in behind.

Flanker Lauren Showalter has definitely upped her standard of play this year and she cut through the defense decisively a number of times putting Vassar on the front foot. At the heart of everything good was Julia Busby at scrumhalf and the team played along to the beat set by this firecracker of a player with everything at warp speed!

The entire raft of replacements was used so everybody contributed to this first tournament win.

Team: 15 Vivika Sheppard 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Caeli Porette 12 Julia Reigrut 11 Izzy Snyder 10 Kasey Drake 9 Julia Busby 1 Sophia Florida 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Andie Authers 4 Grace Skakel 5 Louise Ambler 6 Sam Tang 7 Lauren Showalter 8 Emily Howell. Subs: Asia Baker for Sophia Florida, Kate Canavan for Hannah Thompson, Maddie Freundlich for Emily Howell, Isabel Rodriguez for Izzy Snyder, Julie Geller for Julia Busby, Jamie Marinez for Zoe Lynch, Peyton Wilder for Vivika Sheppard. 

Team 2021-22 Record: 12-1-0.

Next: Saturday April 22, 2022, Vassar College Women at the Beast of the East versus Southern Connecticut State University KO 1:30 pm

Vassar Women Advance to Semifinal

 In game two of the day at The Beast the Vassar Women continued where they had left off against Boston College. This time, a tired and depleted Southern Connecticut State University team was caught unawares. The New Haven school had just played a game and was not able to compete with a Vassar team intent on getting out of the blocks fast.

Vassar College Women 69 v 0 Southern Connecticut State University Women

Tries: Vivika Sheppard (1), Lauren Showalter (4), Emily Howell (2), Julia Busby (1), Caeli Porette (1), Andie Authers (1), Katie Canavan (1).

Cons: Julia Reigrut (7).

Same lineup, the same script as game one! Howell edged closer with two tries and now has 43 on the year. Porette scored one try but the real story of this game was the forwards finding huge defensive holes and charging through. Sam Tang, Lauren Showalter, Andie Authers, Asia Baker, Grace Skakel, Louise Ambler, Hannah Thompson and Sophia Florida all had line breaks and then open field sprints! Showalter showed good finishing with four tries and as with game one this result was never in doubt. Julia Reigrut kicked seven conversions.

Vassar now meets old rival the University of Connecticut with whom there have been some classic encounters at this tournament. The last time was in 2019 and UConn prevailed 14-7 and prior to that, in 2018, Vassar snatched a 15-12 win.

Both those games were in the final and this time the winner will face Marist College in the Tournament Final. Marist defeated UMass., Amherst 12-7 to earn their place at the championship table.

Team: 15 Vivika Sheppard 14 Zoe Lynch 13 Caeli Porette 12 Julia Reigrut 11 Izzy Snyder 10 Kasey Drake 9 Julia Busby 1 Sophia Florida 2 Hannah Thompson 3 Andie Authers 4 Grace Skakel 5 Louise Ambler 6 Sam Tang 7 Lauren Showalter 8 Emily Howell. Subs: Asia Baker for Sophia Florida, Kate Canavan for Hannah Thompson, Maddie Freundlich for Emily Howell, Isabel Rodriguez for Izzy Snyder, Julie Geller for Julia Busby, Jamie Marinez for Kasey Drake, Peyton Wilder for Vivika Sheppard. 

Team 2021-22 Record: 13-1-0.