Poughkeepsie, NY - The last time the Vassar Men's Rugby team was in a Conference playoff game was six years ago in 2017. That Fall Vassar lost 34-19 to their opponents today, SUNY-Maritime. This semifinal match-up, played at Vassar Farm in wet and muddy conditions, was a thriller and much like the recent World Cup games the result was in question right down to the wire.

Vassar College Men 19 v 17 SUNY-Maritime College
Tries: TJ Usher (1), Samia Jaman (1) & Bryce DiNardo (1).
Cons: Kiran Mullen (2).

The Brewers came flying out of the blocks and against a team that was visibly taller and heavier, pretty much across all 15 positions, managed to put the visitors on the back foot.

The forwards hit rucks and every man put in some solid tackles. Maritime often won individual collisions but Vassar sourced the rucks with decent body position and kept valuable possession. The Vassar scrum was under pressure and shunted back a bit in the early scrums. The fear was that the Brewers would lose that platform of attack but credit is due to the front 5 as the pack stuck to their task and held on.

In the centers TJ Usher and Benjamin Remy had good games as both made line breaks and caused the opposition problems but just as importantly they tackled and defended very well.

Vassar took the lead when Usher scooted over and 5-0 implanted some doubt in the visitors minds. Vassar continued to press and the play of Bryce DiNardo at 9 kept the team on the attack as he moved possession swiftly from the breakdown. Benjamin Remy went through on a slicing run early and one felt that given enough ball Vassar would be able to score. The big question was, would the players front up defensively. To a man they did and over the course of the 80 minutes there were numerous good tackles.

Maritime scored from close range and the game became very attritional with each team scoring again before the break. A 12-12 scoreline at the half showed that the match was evenly balanced and the young Vassar team must have realized that the win was there if it could put in another good 40 minute shift. At the start of this season the aim was to get to this position where the team could give a good account of themselves against either Maritime or Hofstra.

Fullback Kiran Mullen had dealt with any kicks and he did well in the second half. DiNardo was passing well and the Vassar defense was swarming up creating pressure. For the majority of the second half it remained 12-12. Vassar's Samia Jaman having scored in that first half. But a number of chances were squandered and Maritime finally managed to score with just about 4 minutes left. The Privateers led 17-12 as the conversion was missed. Vassar restarted the game and would try to get the ball for a last throw of the dice. They did just that and it was so, so fitting that Bryce DiNardo dived over from close range to make it 17-17. The co-captain and scrumhalf was playing his first game back after injuring his knee a few weeks ago.

Mullen stepped up and converted the try to give Vassar the 2-point win, 19-17 and the final whistle blew. Supporters ran onto the field and some players were crying but the scenes in the mud and wet were joyous.

The Vassar Men will play Hofstra University next weekend as they defeated Seton Hall today 21-12. 

Team: 15 Kiran Mullen 14 Phil Knowlton 13 Benjamin Remy 12 Martrel "TJ" Usher 11 Ezra Potts 10 Olly Skeet-Browning 9 Bryce DiNardo 1 Benson Cao 2 Zhongia Hou 3 Justin Lederer 4 Will Smith 5 Joseph Goldin 6 Dimitrios Tzepos 7 Samia Jaman 8 Kaiden Tocher. 
Subs: Gabe Slavin for Will Smith, Luca Pereira Frears for Gabe Slavin.

Next weekend: Tri-State Conference Championship 
Saturday November 4th, 2023 Vassar College Men at Hofstra University KO 1:00 pm