Seaford, NY - This game was a battle of the novices. Vassar fielded nine first year players and Molloy had seven rookies on the field. The hosts had reserved Cedar Creek Park, field #9, and very kindly set up the turf field with a tent and water. Under a blue sky and in brilliant sunshine the Brewers ran in eight tries and kept a clean sheet emerging victorious 52-0.

Vassar College Women 52 at 0 Molloy University Women
Tries: Sabine Weil (2), Tate Wagner (1), Nadya LaMarr (1), Sophie Camplejohn (1), Annie Adams (1), Sam Tang (2).
Cons: Zoe Lynch (2), Nadya LaMarr (4).

The majority of players on the field were either playing their first game of rugby ever or had played fewer than three games. Vassar had four players playing their first game ever and later, when substitutions were made, another four rookies went on. Six of the seven backs were first year players and as stated earlier Molloy put out seven rookies.

Molloy started well enough with some strong forward runners making some headway but were perhaps guilty of offloading too frequently. Vassar may not have made dominant tackles but players did make tackles. Senior and rookie Ava McClure on the left wing put in three good tackles to thwart the Lions attacks. At various points in the match very good tackles were made in the open field by Vassar rookie wings Emma Niehaus, Maggie Nealis and Ella Maniatis.

Up front Number 8 Tate Wagner ran with purpose and made good yards and there were brave contributions from Zoey "OJ" Ojalvo and Ava Smith. Carmen Skinder at flanker and later Sophie Camplejohn and Ina Zaslavsky put in good shifts.

Molloy tried to push the ball wide but stray passes and knock-ons hurt their cause. In sharp contrast, Vassar was very direct and managed to show some real shape and pattern to their attack. In fact, with the very first possession of the game this rookie outfit went through 11 phases, using forwards and backs allowing outside center Sabine Weil to slice through after seven minutes to give the Brewers a 7-0 lead.

It set the tone for the day as Vassar strove constantly to probe and move the defenders around while Molloy kept trying to offload as individual runners attempted to break the line. That Molloy offered a real challenge with big strong runners punching forward was good as the Brewers wanted to be tested. Vassar tacklers needed to put the ball carriers down.

First year student Tate Wagner scored try number 2 again after some phase play and when fullback Nadya LaMarr tiptoed through the Molloy defensive line and sprinted about 45 meters for a score under the posts it was clear that the visitors were in control. Seil collected a second try and the first half ended at 26-0.

Vassar made changes but the basic composition of the team remained rookies. At scrumhalf, first year student Leah Dourmashkin seemed to improve in the second 40 minutes and that's saying something for she had been playing well, making tackles, distributing the ball, and running the show.

As the second half wore on Molloy tired and although there was a short spell of pressure it was Vassar that kept the scoreboard ticking over with tries from Sophie Camplejohn, Annie Adams and Sam Tang. What a glorious site it was to see Tang fly down the left wing given all the hard work that has been put in.

This was a good start for the Vassar rookies and it should propel the whole squad to work harder.

Team: 15 Nadya LaMarr 14 Emma Niehaus 13 Sabine Weil 12 Eleanor Jacoby 11 Ava McClure 10 Zoe Lynch 9 Leah Dourmashkin 1 Nina Fishman 2 Becca Middlen 3 Ava Smith 4 Mette McKinney 5 Annie Adams 6 Zoey Ojalvo 7 Carmen Skinder 8 Tate Wagner.
Subs: Ella Maniatis for Emma Neihaus, Maeve Smith for Eleanor Jacoby, Maggie Nealis for Ava McClure, Maddie Sumrow for Zoe Lynch, Ina Zaslavsky for Zoey Olalvo, Sophie Camplejohn for Mette McKinney, Sam Tang for Nina Fishman, Jaleea  Mederios for Carmen Skinder, Maya Winter for Leah Dourmashkin, Jude Robinson for Sabine Weil.

Next weekend: Vassar College Women v Columbia University Women at Vassar Farm on Sunday October 8, 2023 kick-off 12:00 pm