POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Vassar went up against fellow Seven Sister college Mt. Holyoke on a cold and blustery day at Vassar Farm. It seems that spring has yet to arrive in the northeast this year, so it was yet another bitterly cold afternoon. But that didn't dampen the spirits of the players or quite sizable crowd. It was great to see parents and friends out there supporting the team and they were not disappointed. The Lyons of Mt. Holyoke battled throughout but the Brewers were always in control.

Vassar College Women 41 v 14 Mt. Holyoke College Women
Tries: Kiki Takata (1), Maggie Nealis (2), Tate Wagner (1),  Danny White (1), Emma Niehaus (1) & Leah Dourmashkin (1).
Cons: Sabine Weil (3).

This was a day to remember for a host of reasons - rookie efforts, tries scored, tackles made, good shape and structure and a wonderful atmosphere between all the players.

A 7-tries and 3 conversions victory to 2 converted tries, over western Massachusetts school Mount Holyoke College was a solid return for a Vassar team that contained just 1 starter playing in their usual position, that being flanker Mette McKinney. Vassar's All-American and All-Conference players Sophia Bailey and Asia Baker were unavailable. Locks Grace Skakel and Julia Wolff along with props Julie Geller and Andie Authers did not play for the Brewers and hooker Katie Canavan as well as Number 8 Lauren Showalter did not take the field. The Fall Season starting wings Danny White and Leah Dourmashkin shifted to fullback and scrumhalf respectively while center Sabine Weil went to flyhalf. All in all 4 backs and 7 forwards replaced A-side players.

Mt. Holyoke started brightly maintaining possession and making small inroads but the Vassar defense held firm. The Vassar forwards quickly got up to speed and hit the rucks, perhaps jolted by the visitors' start and it led to a monopoly of possession. Using one out runners the Lyon defense was punctured and the first Vassar try was a joy to see as lock Kiki Takata zipped through a gap on the fringe showing good pace and covered the 45 meters to the goal line looking more like a wing than the number on the jersey. It was just what the doctor had ordered for this young inexperienced team.

Now brimming with confidence the Vassar players ran with determination and from the restart Danny White and Emma Niehaus made big gains before the ball was shifted to Maggie Nealis in the center. The outside center needed no further invitation and with some nifty footwork cut through to score under the posts. Vassar scrumhalf Leah Dourmashkin was having a good day and looked dangerous at all times catching the Mt. Holyoke number 9 and when running the ball.

The Vassar scrum was under some pressure from what looked to be a very talented Mt. Holyoke front row. But the Brewers dug in and provided a platform for Tate Wagner at Number 8 to pick and go from 35 yards out and score. At 15-0 it was definitely a case of minimizing Holyoke's possession and being solid defensively and more tries were likely to be earned. 

The Mt. Holyoke restarts had all been kicked deep into the Vassar 22 but were well handled by fullback White who returned them well. Such was the case after Wagner's score and Vassar's next try was pretty special. Good build up play preceded outside center Nealis getting the ball and the number 13 scorched through beating several defenders in close quarters running a full 65 yards as the crowd roared approval. It was a killer blow because it was from such a distance. The half concluded with the backs again getting the ball after good forward play and fullback White deservedly scored. 34-0 was the score at the half.

The Mt. Holyoke players get full credit for sticking to their game. In the second half Holyoke outscored the Brewers 2 tries to 1, converting both of them and earning 14 points. Vassar was tested in the second half and tackles had to be made. The Holyoke Number 8 was a strong runner and the two tries were scored by the dominant forward.

Vassar will want to keep striving for less errors but this was a step in the right direction with everyone getting valuable game time.

Team: 15 Danny White 14 Lydia Hong 13 Maggie Nealis 12 Maddie Sumrow 11 Ella Maniatis 10 Sabine Weil 9 Leah Dourmashkin 1 Emma Niehaus 2 Becca Middlen 3 Emma Niehaus 4 Kiki Takata 5 Ina Zaslavsky 6 Sam Tang 7 Mette McKinney 8 Tate Wagner. 
Subs: AC Smith for Eleanor Jacoby, Lola Yost for Becca Middlen, Maritza Flores for Emma Niehaus, Zoey Ojalvo for Mette McKinney, Foster Schrader for Danny White.

Overall Record: 14-4-0.

Next: Sunday April 21, 2024 versus the Alums at Vassar College Farm, kick-off: 12:00 pm