Poughkeepsie, NY - It always hurts more when the win was within one's grasp only to slip away in the final 10 minutes. There was a lot of effort and given the level of experience on the field there were some good periods of play but ill-discipline and playing down first one then two players allowed New Paltz to take the spoils. It is quite ironic that most if not all the players had good moments yet the result didn't materialize.

Vassar College Men 31 v 39 SUNY-New Paltz Men
Tries: Muhammad Muhammad Al-Shaebani (1), Gene Waddy (1), Phil Knowlton (1), Anthony Kolesar (1), TJ Usher (1).
Cons: Sawyer Bivins (3).

A good opening three minutes provided the blueprint for Vassar to succeed. The Brewers were direct and controlled, winning the ball and making yards. But after some good territorial progress the ball was turned over and New Paltz showed their intent. The Hawks pushed the ball wide but a good tackle from Leo Powdrell chasing back stopped that attack.

Vassar had a spell of 10-14 minutes where the team shipped three tries! At a scrum just 5-meters out from their own goal line the Vassar 8, 9 axis spilled the ball and moments later the big physical New Paltz forward had been driven over. Down 5-0 the team looked to regroup but a series of penalties and a couple of wayward passes led to a yellow card and New Paltz capitalized with another forward try.

When it rains it pours! Moments later Vassar flanker Miles Yum chasing back made a tackle as Vassar's wing Leo Powdrell also tackled the New Paltz runner and the two clashed heads. Two starters gone, two tries down and the visitors playing with their tails up.

New Paltz scored again to lead 15-0 but Vassar showed real grit and pride as the team scored 2 tries before the half and it was anyone's game at 15-12. First Muhammad Muhammad Al-Shaebani plowed over after some good work by TJ  Usher and Phil Knowlton. Bivins slotted the conversion. Then lock forward Gene Carlton Waddy ran hard to get over after some Vassar phases.

The second half saw Vassar pull ahead 19-15 and after New Paltz responded to lead 22-19 a fine score took it to 24-22 in Vassar's favor then 31-22. But the Brewers would not score again and in the final 15 minutes the team ran out of gas first conceding a penalty try and then another right at the end. 

Team: 15 McCarthy Barber 14 Leo Powdrell 13 Rhese Fine 12 TJ Usher 11 Bowie Graebner 10 Marius Kruse 9 Anthony Kolesar 1 Sawyer Bivins 2 Phil Knowlton 3 Ben Kaplan 4 Theo Rankin 5 Gene Carlton Waddy 6 Muhammad Al-Shabani 7 Miles Yum 8 Ken Kabeya Subs: Josh Maddaloni for Leo Powdrell, Ezra Feddersen for Miles Yum.

Record: 0-1-0.

Next: Sunday September 20, 2026 Vassar College Men at Montclair State University KO 1:00 pm