The Vassar College Women rounded off a busy weekend of rugby with a trip on Sunday to Stony Brook University on Long Island. Just like last year, the Brewers lost a group game but stormed back in the single elimination rounds to repeat as Tri-State Rugby Conference Sevens Champions. The title will likely earn them an At-Large bid to the American Collegiate Rugby Association (ACRA) Invitational Championship and a tilt at some of the top teams in the country.
GAME 1
Vassar College 29 v 0 Hofstra University
Tries: Nathalie Freeman (2), Rachel Elson (1), Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild (2).
Cons: Makena Emery (1) & Michelle Urrutia (1).
Vassar opened up against Hofstra University and immediately took the lead when center Rachel Elson was put away after 30 seconds. The sophomore had a stellar afternoon scoring in all the games and getting over the line 6 times in the 4 games played. Vassar was able to swing the ball wide and simple support was on-hand to finish off each movement.
Team: 1 Abby Alexander 2 Nathalie Freeman 3 Michelle Urrutia 9 Jennie To 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 12 Rachel Elson 14 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild. Subs: Makena Emery for Mary Margaret McElduff, Andrea Ramsay for Nathalie Freeman.
GAME 2
Vassar College 5 v 22 Stony Brook University
Tries: Rachel Elson (1).
In the group game that would decide who advanced as winner and runner-up it was Stony Brook that deservedly won. The Seawolves out-hustled Vassar at the breakdown and defended strongly making solid tackles whenever Vassar had the ball. Vassar was guilty of just passing for passing sake and it did not help matters that they were also under pressure in the 3 scrums.
Team: 1 Michelle Urrutia 2 Nathalie Freeman 3 Caroline James 9 Jyen Wong 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 12 Rachel Elson 14 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild. Subs: Rachel Jones for Caroline James.
The semifinal rounds pitted Vassar against the University at Albany while at the same time Marist College faced Stony Brook University. The University at Albany had won their group going 2-0 and there strength in the fall had been some speedy backs.
SEMIFINAL
Vassar College 29 v 5 University at Albany
Tries: Rachel Elson (2), Abby Alexander (2), Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (1) & Michelle Urrutia (1).
This game was played on the artificial turf field and Rachel Elson was off to the races having been moved to the wing. In addition, Vassar employed her as a sweeper defensively and the whole team seemed to improve as a result. Abby Alexander had an excellent outing and the strong running wing scored two lovely tries as Vassar disposed of the winners from Group B.
Team: 1 Abby Alexander 2 Nathalie Freeman 3 Oshana Reich 9 Jennie To 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 12 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 14 Rachel Elson Subs: Dylan for Oshana Reich, Michelle Urrutia for Jennie To.
FINAL
Vassar College 22 v 5 Stony Brook University
Tries: Rachel Elson (2), Mary Margaret McElduff (1), Jyen Wong (1).
Cons: Mary Margaret McElduff (1).
Vassar went into this game set on redemption. The team felt that the difference between the sides in the group game had been intensity and it was easily remedied. Nathalie Freeman is a fierce competitor whenever she takes the field and even more so when there is an imbalance to redress. Vassar tore in to Stony Brook seeking to deny them possession and not lose the collisions. The Brewers attitude was personified in particular by the efforts of Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild who chased back and made a try-saving tackle after Vassar had gone ahead after an Elson try.
It sent a message to the entire squad that there is no giving up on any play at any moment. Credit was due Stony Brook for they did score to tie the game at 5-5 moments later but geez, did they have to work for it.
Unfortunately, Stony Brook lost a good player to what was a dislocated elbow and the game was delayed about 15 minutes for her to receive medical attention. Upon resumption any momentum generated by the try had been lost and when Vassar’s Elson scored her second to give the Brewers a 10-5 lead it was the visitors taking control.
Vassar stole a lineout and a couple of scrums which were critical to restricting the Stony Brook runners. Every Vassar player was playing hard and the defensive pressure was suffocating the Stony Brook attack. Jennie To had run herself into the ground so Jyen Wong went on at 9 and shortly thereafter she dived over the line and it was 15-5.
Finally, emerging from a sea of defenders, flyhalf Mary Margaret McElduff sliced through to make it a done deal and the hill of 15-5 was now a small mountain for Stony Brook to climb.
Team: 1 Abby Alexander 2 Nathalie Freeman 3 Michelle Urrutia 9 Jennie To 10 Mary Margaret McElduff 12 Laila Blumenthal-Rothchild 14 Rachel Elson Subs: Jyen Wong for Jennie To.
Epilogue
Thirteen Vassar Women represented the college on this beautiful sunny day at the Stony Brook campus. They won the tournament scoring a total of 85 points over 4 games; they conceded 32 points; they scored 15 tries; and they made countless tackles to retain the Tri-State Rugby Conference 7s title. All this after playing at St. Michael’s College on Saturday, a 4 and a half hour drive north, and winning there as well.