Vassar Women Look Sharp Versus Stony Brook

The challenge for the Vassar Women was to play error free rugby. That they did not do so was not for lack of effort and for significant periods they were error free. They put together multiple phases and adopted different patterns and can be quite pleased with their efforts. The team was without usual starters at 1, 4, 9, 11 and 12, so kudos to those who stepped up.

Vassar College Women 56 v 7 Stony Brook University Women

Tries: Nathalie Freeman (3), Jennie To (1), Rachel Elson (2), Mary Margaret McElduff (1), Abigail Alexander (1), & Sarah Mawhinney (2).

Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (3).
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In addition to the 10 tries scored, Vassar had at least another 4 held-up in goal. If Mary Margaret McElduff had been on song with her kicking the total might well have been another 34 points!

Stony Brook did not match the speed of play nor the physicality of the Vassar team. The Brewers looked very sharp as they recycled the ball and went from side to side asking questions of the defense. Perhaps it was because Stony Brook opted to not contest rucks or that ball placement was good in any event Vassar monopolized the ball.

Jennie To did well at 9 and Alicia Menard-Livingston was solid at center. But it was the Vassar forwards that laid the foundation for a good win.

At the half it was already 34-0 and when a Stony Brook player was red-carded the visitors were down to 14. The Seawolves did score a good try but it was scant consolation for 80 minutes of work.

Team: 15 Rachel Elson 14 Abigail Alexander 13 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 12 Alicia Menard-Livingston 11 Andrea Ramsay 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 9 Jennie To 1 Lizzie Bennett 2 Marron McConnell 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Oshana Reich 6 Nathalie Freeman 7 Sarah Mawhinney 8 Amanda Saich. Subs: Caroline James for Abigail Alexander Fiona Brodie for Lizzie Bennett.

Overall record: 5-0-0

Next week: Sunday October 16th, 2016 versus ?West Chester University Women – Kickoff 2:30 pm at Vassar College Farm.

Vassar College Women “B” 25 v 0 Stony Brook University Women B

Tries: Andrea Ramsay (1), Caroline James (1), Claire Fondrie-Teitler (1), Megan de Koning (1) & Kayla Vasquez (1).

It is so, so satisfying to see the rookies settling into the squad as evidenced by each of them doing some basics well. Danielle Kaminski’s composure in the tackle and ball placement was second to none. Sam Sample had a bulldozing run, Dylan Joyner broke the gain line, Charlotte Benoit was good in contact, Fiona Brodie was good carrying the ball, Caroline James ran the plays well, my Hansen didn’t put a foot wrong, Kate Titowsky hit rucks hard, and Kayla Vasquez had the final say when she sprinted over for a try!

Equally rewarding is to witness the vets on the team help make this all possible by providing leadership and direction in the way that they play. Claire Fondrie-Teitler looked comfortable at scrumhalf although a couple passes came down with icicles on them! Ellen Quist revisited her days at flyhalf and distributed well and Megan de Koning was always direct and deserved her try.

The Vassar Women definitely had shape and purpose to their game and scored 3 tries in the first half and then collected 2 in the second period. There was really never any doubt which team would win this contest but the manner of the victory was so pleasing.

Team: 15 Lindsey Sample 14 Amy Hansen 13 Dylan Joyner 12 Caroline James 11 Danielle Kaminski 10 Ellen Quist 9 Claire Fondrie-Teitler 1 Fiona Brodie 2 Andrea Ramsay 3 Amanda Saich 4 Kate Titowsky 5 Kayla Vasquez 6 Charlotte Benoit 7 Megan de Koning 8 Oshana Reich. Subs: Nathalie Freeman for Oshana Reich, Jennie To for Nathalie Freeman