Vassar Women Stumble Versus West Chester University

The Brewers lost their undefeated record on this first Sunday of Fall Break when they came up short against the West Chester University Golden Rams. The teams had met once previously and that was in 2005 when Vassar won in Gainesville, Florida in a USA Rugby Division I National Championship consolation playoff. Since then, West Chester has gone Varsity and has some scholarship players.Today, both teams scored six tries apiece but it was the visitors who earned the win.

Vassar College Women 34 v 38 West Chester University Women

Tries: Lauren Workman (1), Mariah Ghant (3), & Nathalie Freeman (2).

Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (2).

The Vassar Women will probably look back on this game as one that got away. They scored six tries and the forwards dominated at the set piece and in loose play. The backs also made a host of line breaks with Mary Margaret McElduff, Alicia Menard-Livingston and LailaBlumenthal-Rothchild all getting in behind the defense a number of times.

So how is it that the visiting West Chester team managed to win? Well, Vassar was slow to organize it’s defensive line, allowed ball kicked to bounce before trying to get it, and there were missed tackles. One has to credit the West Chester team for using the available space and the women who sprinted away to score. There were also a number of solid tackles put in by the Golden Rams that certainly helped stiffen the defense.

Mariah Ghant scored a hat trick for Vassar and allied to her strong scrummaging she made a big impact. She did miss a tackle in the first half that led to a try but she continues to be an improving player. Nathalie Freeman came on at half time and had an impact, scoring two tries and she might have had a third but for one dive over the line was judged a knock-on. The first Vassar score came from Lauren Workman who finished off a strong drive from the Vassar eight.

So, much like last year, the area of concern for the Brewers is defense. If they get turned over they tend to be vulnerable to athletic teams.

If only each player would take as much ownership of defensive responsibilities, techniques, and tactics as they do for their attacking components!

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 Kate Sworden 2 Marron McConnell 3 Mariah Ghant 4 Miranda Scarlata 5 Lauren Workman 6 Oshana Reich 7 Sarah Mawhinney 8 Amanda Saich. Subs: Nathalie Freeman for Miranda Scarlata.

Overall record: 5-1-0