Fairfield, CT - In the first few minutes alone the Brewers had allowed the kickoff to bounce, knocked the ball on twice, run the wrong way at a set piece and missed a couple of tackles. It didn't get much better despite a few patches of continuity. In the end Fairfield ran out more than convincing winners 50 points to 24.

Vassar College Men 24  v Fairfield University Dev. XV 50
Tries: Samia Jaman (1), Caleb DiBartolo (1), Kiran Mullen (1), Eli Schair-Rigoletti (1).
Cons: Kiran Mullen (2).

Fairfield ran hard and threw the ball around but committed enough mistakes that Vassar was still in the match at the half, although down 3 tries to 1, the score was 19-5. 

There were so many errors which compounded matters that the visitors never got any closer than 2 scores. Vassar failed to maintain possession of the ball for any significant number of phases when possession was gained. Handing the ball back to the Fairfield team time and time again meant more defending and the need to tackle. In addition, once a team knows they can bash through defenders there need be no second invitation.

Aside from tackling, Vassar's one out runners didn't run wide enough and found themselves running right into the thick of the fringe defense. Too often passes were dropped, players turned the ball over at the ruck with poor ball placement or slow support, players ran off the field and penalty kicks did not find touch.

There were some positives, particularly in the performances of the first year players. The Vassar centers, Kruse and Hoover, generally got over the gain line although Kruse too often slowed down running into contact. Lock Miles Yum worked hard throughout and made some good tackles. McCarthy Barber on the wing tackled and ran hard so it was not all doom and gloom. 

Just toward the end of the first half the forwards strung several phases together and flanker Samia Jaman went over from a yard out.

The key to getting back into the contest was to score first in the second half but it was Fairfield who once again busted through and showed the defense a clean pair of heels. At 26-5 the Brewers did manage to claw their way back into the contest some after a series of rucks led to Caleb DiBartolo running through.

But the Vassar scrum was being penalized so the Brewers didn't have this platform to rely on and although they managed 2 more tries through Mullen and Schair-Rigoletti the leaking defensive line allowed Fairfield to score 3 tries in the second half. The 4 tries earned the team a bonus point in the standings which may prove influential come postseason conference play.

The team must really focus on being totally committed to defending individually and collectively. Clear communication and then making the tackle is the only remedy.

Team: 15 Kiran Mullen 14 Ken Kabeya 13 Sam Hoover 12 Marius Kruse 11 McCarthy Barber 10 Ted Twit 9 Eli Schair-Rigoletti 1 Ben Kaplan 2 Phil Knowlton 3 Luca Pereira Frears 4 Max Czekaj 5 Miles Yum 6 Zhongjia Hou 7 Samia Jaman 8 Kaiden Tocher. Subs: Misha Kobakhidze, Sawyer Bivins, Anthony Kolesar, Caleb Joyce, Will Taaffe, Sahaj Sharma, Caleb DiBartolo, Rheese Fine, Asher Decherney.
Injured: TJ Usher, Mark Gislason, Hunter Farhat, Jojo Goldin, Gene Waddy, Tony Mwangi & Finn Smith. 
Unavailable: Ashton Saenz, Muhammad Muhammad Al-Sheabani & Nico Reyes Cardoza.
MIA: Rafael Lopez & James Keeley.

Record: 3-2-0

Next: Sunday October 5th, 2025 Vassar College Men at SUNY-Maritime College KO 1:00 pm